US Investigators Face Uncertainty Over Shooting at White House Correspondents’ Dinner

Nearly a week after an attempted attack targeting President Donald Trump at the annual dinner of the White House Correspondents' Association, questions remain over how a Secret Service officer was shot during the incident.

The shooting took place last Saturday at the Washington Hilton, where leading figures from the US media had gathered. Authorities say 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen attempted to breach security and enter the venue.

At a press conference on Monday, FBI Director Kash Patel and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the suspect was armed with a semi-automatic handgun, a pump-action shotgun, and three knives. He allegedly opened fire while passing through a metal detector.

Shortly after the incident, President Trump said a Secret Service officer had been wounded, stating the agent was shot at close range with a powerful weapon. The officer, however, survived without serious injury thanks to a bulletproof vest, which absorbed a shot to the chest.

Despite the initial claims, investigators have not yet confirmed whether the officer was shot by the suspect. Blanche said on Sunday they believed the attacker was responsible, but struck a more cautious tone a day later, saying ballistic analysis was still ongoing.

The formal charges filed against Allen mention that he fired a shotgun but do not yet include a specific charge of injuring the officer. Former US attorney Mark Lesko said prosecutors may be waiting for conclusive ballistic evidence before adding that count.

The case took another turn when Washington’s US Attorney Jeanine Pirro released CCTV footage on social media platform X. The video shows Allen running with a shotgun, with a visible muzzle flash. At the same time, a Secret Service officer is seen firing five shots.

Pirro rejected suggestions of “friendly fire,” insisting the officer was not shot by a colleague. Secret Service Director Sean Curran also told Fox News that the footage clearly shows the suspect firing at close range.

Defense lawyers for Allen have pointed to inconsistencies in the government’s statements. In court filings, they argue that prosecutors initially claimed the officer was shot but later avoided repeating that claim, suggesting a lack of direct evidence.

Officials say it may take several weeks or even months to complete ballistic and forensic analysis. Until then, uncertainty over the shooting is expected to remain a major topic in US political and security circles.

Legal experts note that even if it cannot be proven that Allen shot the officer, the existing charges—including illegal weapons possession and attempted murder—could still result in a life sentence if he is convicted.