Cole Allen took mirror selfie with weapons moments before hotel shooting

Published April 29, 2026 10:08am ET | Updated April 29, 2026 10:17am ET



Federal prosecutors released new images and details about Cole Allen on Wednesday, including a mirror selfie he allegedly took inside his hotel room roughly 30 minutes before he charged past a final security gate at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

The image shows Allen dressed in black slacks and a black dress shirt with a red tie tucked into his pants, appearing to carry multiple items later recovered from his person, including an ammunition-filled bag, a shoulder holster, a knife, and tools such as pliers and wire cutters, according to the latest court filing. Prosecutors say the photo was taken at approximately 8:03 p.m. on April 25 while he was inside his room at the Washington Hilton, just minutes before going downstairs.

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