CA, US & World
'Definitively His Bullet': U.S. Attorney Confirms Secret Service Agent Shot by White House Gala Gunman
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a significant breakthrough for federal prosecutors, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced on Tuesday that investigators have "definitively" linked the shooting of a Secret Service agent to the suspect in the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump.
Speaking to national media, Pirro confirmed that ballistic analysis of a Secret Service agent's protective vest revealed a pellet from a 12-gauge buckshot blast. The pellet was found "intertwined with the fiber" of the officer’s ballistic vest, proving the shot originated from the Mossberg pump-action shotgun wielded by 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen.
The "Smoking Gun" Evidence
The confirmation settles a week of speculation regarding whether the agent was struck by "friendly fire" during the chaotic exchange of gunfire at the Washington Hilton on April 25.
"It is definitively his bullet," Pirro stated. "He hit that Secret Service agent. He had every intention to kill him and anyone who got in his way on his way to killing the president of the United States."
Court Orders Change in Detention Conditions
While the prosecution hardens its case, a federal judge has stepped in to address the conditions of Allen's pre-trial detention. On Monday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui slammed the D.C. Department of Corrections for placing Allen in "functionally solitary confinement" and a padded cell.
Defense attorneys argued the 24-hour lockdown and "safe cell" requirements—which included a restrictive vest—were punitive for a defendant with no prior criminal record. Judge Faruqui agreed, calling the conditions "extremely disturbing" and noting they were more likely to induce suicidal ideation than prevent it. The judge officially ordered Allen to be removed from suicide watch and moved to a general high-security population.
Motive and Premeditation
New details from the FBI’s investigation suggest Allen was meticulously tracking the President’s movements leading up to the attack. Digital forensics from Allen's phone revealed several searches conducted in the minutes before he breached the security checkpoint, including:
"Is the president in the ballroom yet?"
"Has the president sat down yet?"
"What time will dinner be served?"
Pirro also addressed a manifesto sent by Allen to his family shortly before the shooting. While the document did not name Trump specifically, Pirro noted it was filled with "radical rhetoric" and referred to the suspect as the "Friendly Federal Assassin."
What's Next?
Cole Tomas Allen currently faces three federal charges:
Attempted assassination of the President.
Discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
Transportation of firearms and ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has indicated that a grand jury indictment is forthcoming, and additional charges—including assault on a federal officer—are likely. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday, May 8.
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By: CNN Newsource
May 5, 2026

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