Federal prosecutors have released a photo taken by Cole Tomas Allen just minutes before he allegedly attempted to storm a security checkpoint at an event attended by President Donald Trump.
The image, described in court filings, shows Allen inside his hotel room at the Washington Hilton — dressed in a shirt and tie, visibly armed with multiple weapons and ammunition.
According to prosecutors, the photo was taken at approximately 8:03 p.m.
JUST IN: Federal prosecutors release new images and details of Cole Allen and his alleged attempt to assassinate president Trump. Here is a mirror selfie he took about 30 minutes before charging past the magnetometers. https://t.co/SjBVCPQJQO pic.twitter.com/tBPnPDOQPS
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) April 29, 2026
Less than 30 minutes later, the situation would turn violent.
In a motion seeking pretrial detention, authorities laid out a precise timeline of events leading up to the attempted breach.
“The defendant used his cellphone to take a photograph of himself in the mirror,” prosecutors wrote, describing the moment captured in the now-public image.
They added that Allen had already scheduled emails to be sent shortly afterward, including one with an attachment labeled “Apology and Explanation.”
Those messages were transmitted around 8:30 p.m.
Moments later, prosecutors say, Allen moved toward the screening area.
“Shortly thereafter, the defendant rushed the screening checkpoint on the Terrace Level of the Washington Hilton with a raised shotgun,” the filing states.
Security quickly intervened, stopping the suspect before he could reach the main event space, where Trump and other high-profile attendees were gathered.
Allen, 31, was arraigned Monday and now faces multiple federal charges, including attempting to assassinate the president.
