Cole Allen's Defense Withdraws Suicide Watch Motion After Restriction Lifted

Key facts

• Cole Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, was arrested after trying to breach security at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner.
• Allen faces three felony counts including attempted assassination of the president.
• His defense withdrew a motion to remove him from suicide watch after learning the restriction had been lifted.
• Prosecutors plan to bring the case before a grand jury this week.
• A Secret Service officer was struck by gunfire but protected by a bulletproof vest.
• Authorities found a written manifesto in which Allen stated he wanted to target Trump administration officials.
• Allen graduated from Caltech in 2017 and earned a master's degree from California State University, Dominguez Hills in 2025.

Defense Motion Moot After Jail Lifts Suicide Watch

The defense team for Cole Allen, the suspect in the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner shooting, withdrew its request to remove him from suicide watch after learning the restriction had already been lifted. In a court filing, Allen’s attorneys called the motion moot and asked the judge to cancel a hearing scheduled for Monday. The hearing remains on the court’s calendar pending the judge’s decision. Allen’s lawyers said they recently learned he is no longer on suicide status at the D.C. Jail, making their earlier request unnecessary. Suicide watch at the jail involves 24-hour lockdown in a "safe cell." The withdrawal came after the defense had initially sought to have Allen removed from the restrictive monitoring.

Prosecutors Seek Indictment as Charges Mount

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro told CNN on Sunday that prosecutors plan to bring the case before a grand jury this week, indicating they are working toward securing an indictment that could include additional charges. Allen currently faces three felony counts: attempted assassination of the President of the United States, transportation of a firearm and ammunition over state lines with the intent to commit a felony, and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence. The charges stem from the incident Saturday night at the Washington Hilton Hotel, where thousands of journalists, President Donald Trump, and members of his Cabinet had gathered for the annual dinner. Allen did not reach the ballroom, but an exchange of gunfire with Secret Service agents occurred near security barricades.

Suspect's Background and Alleged Manifesto

Cole Tomas Allen, 31, was an educator from Torrance, California, with an engineering degree from Caltech, where he studied mechanical engineering and graduated in 2017. He later earned a master’s degree from California State University, Dominguez Hills in 2025. According to a senior U.S. official, Allen left behind a written "manifesto" in which he clearly stated he wanted to target officials in the Trump administration. Authorities also found anti-Trump and anti-Christian rhetoric on the suspect's social media accounts. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said on CBS News' "Face the Nation" that investigators believe Allen was targeting members of the Trump administration. The FBI is conducting a criminal investigation, and the Secret Service is probing Allen's background to shed light on what precipitated the shooting.

The Attack: Gunfire, Injuries, and Arrest

At least five to eight gunshots were fired during the incident, according to two law enforcement sources. A Secret Service officer was struck by at least one round, believed to have been fired by the shooter, but the agent was protected by a bulletproof vest and is expected to recover. Allen was armed with a shotgun, handgun, and multiple knives when he attempted to charge a security checkpoint outside the dinner, said Jeff Carroll, interim chief of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department. Allen was apprehended at the scene. He was not struck by gunfire but was taken to a hospital for evaluation. President Trump posted a photo to social media showing the shirtless suspect on the floor of the hotel with his arms tied behind his back after being detained. Allen was a guest at the hotel, having checked in on Friday, the day before the event, after traveling by train from Los Angeles to Chicago and then to Washington, D.C.

Contrasting Portraits of the Accused

Those who knew Allen described him as a "gentle, smart young man," struggling to reconcile that image with the charges. Rev. Movses Janbazian, Allen's former pastor at Pasadena United Reformed Church in South Pasadena, recalled Allen as a hard-working student who attended sermons each week during his time at Caltech. "Nice, gentle, smart young man," Janbazian told ABC News. "It's obviously very surprising to hear his name appear in the news in this way." Paul Thompson, a neighbor of the Allen family, described Allen as "not very sociable," saying he had seen him a hundred times but never had a conversation with him. Thompson contrasted Allen with his father, whom he called "kind of like the neighborhood mayor — knows everybody by first name." Thompson said he "had no idea that he was capable of that kind of violence."

What Comes Next: Grand Jury and Legal Proceedings

With the suicide watch issue resolved, the legal focus shifts to the grand jury proceedings expected this week. Prosecutors are expected to present evidence to secure an indictment, which could include additional charges beyond the three already filed. The court has yet to rule on whether Monday’s hearing will proceed. The case has drawn intense scrutiny given the high-profile nature of the target and the venue. The Secret Service and FBI continue their investigations, and Allen remains in custody at the D.C. Jail. The defense has not indicated any further motions at this time, but the withdrawal of the suicide watch request suggests a shift in strategy as the case moves toward trial.

The bottom line

• Cole Allen faces three felony counts, including attempted assassination of the president, after allegedly trying to breach the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
• His defense withdrew a motion to end suicide watch after the jail lifted the restriction, making the request moot.
• Prosecutors plan to bring the case before a grand jury this week, potentially adding more charges.
• Allen left a manifesto targeting Trump administration officials, and his social media contained anti-Trump and anti-Christian rhetoric.
• A Secret Service officer was shot but saved by a bulletproof vest; no attendees were seriously injured.
• Allen, a Caltech graduate and former educator, was described by acquaintances as intelligent and gentle, contrasting with the violence of the attack.