Secret Service director denies agent was wounded by friendly fire

Published April 30, 2026 9:07pm ET



Secret Service Director Sean Curran said on Thursday that an agent at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner last weekend was not shot by friendly fire in the attack.

Rather, Curran said the agent was shot at “point-blank range” with a shotgun held by Cole Allen, 31. The statement contradicts reports that suggested another law enforcement officer shot the agent as Allen rushed past the security checkpoint toward the Washington Hilton ballroom.

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