Secret Service Agent Injured in Trump Assassination Attempt at WHCA Dinner

A Secret Service agent injured during an assassination attempt on US President Donald Trump may have been struck by a bullet fired by a fellow officer. The incident took place last week at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, where a gunman tried to force his way into the venue.

During a court hearing, it was found that the agent who was hit had fired five shots at the suspect but was not struck by return fire in a confirmed exchange. Acting attorney general Todd Blanche said, "This heroic officer who was hit fired five times at Allen, who was not shot but fell to the ground and was promptly arrested." He added that the attacker had discharged a weapon but declined to confirm who hit the agent. "The defendant fired out of his shotgun - we know that happened. But as far as getting into exacting ballistics, I'm not going to do that today," he said, according to Sky News.

31-year-old suspect Cole Tomas Allen from Torrance, California, has been charged with attempted assassination of the president and two other federal offences. Prosecutors say more charges are likely as the investigation continues. Allen was armed with a shotgun, a pistol and knives when he tried to enter the dining area where Trump, vice president JD Vance and senior officials were attending the annual event. He was seen running through the hotel lobby but was stopped before reaching the main hall. The president and his team were quickly evacuated as guests took cover. The injured agent survived after the bullet struck a Kevlar vest. The suspect was contained before reaching high-profile attendees.

Investigators have since revealed more about Allen's background. His family had raised concerns about his behaviour in the days leading up to the incident. His sister told officials he often spoke about doing "something" to fix problems in the world, while his brother alerted police after receiving a 1000-word manifesto from Allen. Allen holds a mechanical engineering degree from the California Institute of Technology and had no previous criminal record, according to his lawyer. Law enforcement sources say he had legally purchased firearms and regularly practised at shooting ranges.

The attempted attack is one of several threats faced by Trump in recent years. It follows an earlier incident in Pennsylvania in 2024 and another case involving a plot at a golf course in Florida, for which a man was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison.