WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said Saturday night’s armed breach at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner could have resulted in a mass shooting and possible presidential assassination if not for the rapid response of law enforcement at the scene. The shooting took place moments before the event was scheduled to begin at the Washington Hilton Hotel.
Speaking shortly after the incident, Pirro made clear that, based on the evidence gathered so far, the suspect intended to inflict widespread harm.
“It is clear based upon what we know so far that this individual was intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could,” she said. Pirro emphasized that the security checkpoint positioned outside the ballroom ultimately prevented the suspect from reaching the main event space, where thousands of attendees — including the president — were gathered.
The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, charged toward the checkpoint armed with a shotgun, handgun, and multiple knives. Authorities say Allen was running in the direction of the ballroom where President Donald Trump and other top officials were seated. During the confrontation, a uniformed Secret Service officer was shot but survived due to wearing a ballistic vest, preventing what could have been a fatal injury.
“Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we “LET THE SHOW GO ON” but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we’ll just, plain, have to do it again,” the President said.
Pirro, who said she was inside the ballroom at the time, described the moment shots were fired as one of immediate fear and silence. Attendees ducked under tables as law enforcement flooded the area. She credited the coordinated response by the Secret Service, FBI, and Metropolitan Police Department with stopping the suspect before he could enter the room. “All of them tonight acted so quickly that they prevented what could have been a horrific event,” she said.
Allen is currently facing federal charges including using a firearm during a crime of violence and assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon. Pirro noted that additional charges are expected as the investigation continues to unfold. The suspect is scheduled to appear in federal court for arraignment on Monday as authorities work to determine his motive and how he was able to breach security at such a high-profile event.
While investigators have not formally confirmed that the president was the intended target, Pirro acknowledged that Allen was moving directly toward the ballroom entrance with a weapon in hand — a fact that has intensified concerns about the nature of the threat and the potential scale of what could have occurred if he had not been stopped.
