Allen allegedly traveled to Washington by train, carrying a shotgun, pistol and knives, and booked a room in the Washington Hilton where the April 25 dinner took place.

U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden listens to Defense Attorney Eugene Ohm make arguments for Cole Allen, a suspect in the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner shooting, as he sits near defense lawyer Tezira Abe and government lawyers Charles Jones and Adam Barry in the courtroom during a plea hearing after Allen was charged with attempting to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump, in Washington D.C., U.S., May 11, 2026, in this courtroom sketch.
Credit: REUTERS/Emily Goff