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By Steve Mollman
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The U.S. Secret Service director discussed new details on how Cole Allen—the man charged with attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump—was subdued amid the gunfire that rattled Saturday night's White House Correspondents' Dinner, saying the suspect was not shot but brought to the ground after falling near a security checkpoint.
In an interview during Fox News’ The Will Cain Show on Thursday, Secret Service Director Sean Curran said the engagement at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., unfolded in seconds and clarified several points that had prompted public questions, including who fired shots, why the suspect was not struck and how officers ultimately restrained him.
Curran said only two people fired weapons during the encounter: Allen and a Secret Service agent. “That is correct,” he said when asked whether the only shooters were the suspect and one agent.
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According to Curran, the same officer who was shot by Allen was also the one who returned fire. “All the evidence that I’ve seen, the suspect shot our officer point-blank range with a shotgun,” Curran said. “Our officer heroically returned fire while being shot.”
The agent was struck in the chest but managed to fire five rounds while falling, Curran said. None of those rounds hit Allen. “The suspect was not hit,” Curran said.
New Video of Cole Allen Released
Curran's remarks come as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro posted a new video that she said shows Allen at the hotel "casing the area" the day before the event. The video also shows a slowed-down version of the suspect running through a security checkpoint on Saturday during the dinner.
Taking to X, Pirro said, "Today, we are releasing video already provided to U.S. District Court showing Cole Allen shoot a U.S. Secret Service officer during his attempt to assassinate the President at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. There is no evidence the shooting was the result of friendly fire. The video also shows Allen casing the area in the Hilton Hotel the day before the attack. My office along with the @FBI will continue this extensive investigation to bring Cole Allen to justice."
She added on X: "Cole Allen is facing life in prison for the attempt to assassinate the President and more charges are on the way. We are now combing through his digital footprint and communications to find out whether or not he had the intent to kill additional people by name."
How Cole Allen Was Brought to the Ground
Curran said early speculation that Allen, 31, was neutralized by gunfire is incorrect, adding that the suspect was subdued after falling near the magnetometer checkpoint, moments before reaching the secure area.
“It appears that the suspect hit his knee on one of our magnetometer boxes and began to fall to the ground,” Curran said. “That’s when officers and agents were able to subdue him and pile on top of him.”
Curran described the response as immediate, saying officers restrained the suspect almost as soon as he fell. “You’re talking almost about four seconds, from start to finish.”
Curran also rejected reports suggesting the suspect was taken down near a stairwell, saying the encounter happened at the rear checkpoint, where metal detectors were set up. “That’s incorrect,” he said of the stairwell reports. “He was taken down by the magnetometer checkpoint.”
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Why Cole Allen Appeared Shirtless After the Arrest
Curran said Allen was wearing a tactical vest, which officers removed after restraining him. “Officers bravely removed that clothing to ensure he did not have any other devices on him," the Secret Service chief said.
He added that Allen was later moved from the immediate scene after being held.
Distance From Security to the President
Addressing criticism of the security layout, Curran pushed back on claims that Allen came dangerously close Trump. He said the magnetometer checkpoint was about 355 feet from the podium, with multiple physical barriers and elevation changes in between. “That’s a long distance to get to,” he said.
Curran described a multilayered setup including hallways, stairs, double doors and additional officers positioned between the checkpoint and the secured area. Allen, he said, broke into a sprint only after passing through a set of double doors shortly before reaching the magnetometers.
Defending the Security Setup
Curran said the Secret Service treated the venue and hotel as two separate secured sites and conducted planning, including blast analysis, before the event. “I would not change the site again,” he said. “I think the site was set up perfectly.”
The interview comes amid heightened scrutiny of Secret Service operations following the shooting. Curran acknowledged criticism but defended the response, emphasizing the actions of the wounded officer and those who restrained the suspect.
Curran also said Trump personally called the injured officer after the incident.
As investigations continue, Curran deferred questions on the suspect's potential motives and additional materials found on him to the FBI.
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