Secret Service officer shot at gala was not hit by friendly fire, sources say
A U.S. Secret Service officer was struck by a bullet during a shooting incident outside the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton, but investigators have determined the round was not friendly fire. The suspected gunman, Cole Allen, allegedly fired one shot from a shotgun before being subdued, while the Secret Service officer returned fire with five rounds. The officer was not seriously injured, likely because the bullet hit his cellphone inside a pocket of his bulletproof vest.
- ▪The bullet that struck the Secret Service officer was fired by the suspect, not from friendly fire, according to law enforcement sources.
- ▪The suspected gunman, 31-year-old Cole Allen of Torrance, California, was not wounded and was arrested at the scene.
- ▪A total of six shots were fired: one by the suspect and five by the Secret Service officer who was hit.
- ▪Investigators believe the bullet struck the officer's cellphone, which was in a pocket of his bulletproof vest, preventing serious injury.
- ▪Cole Allen has been charged with attempting to assassinate the president and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
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Politics Secret Service officer shot at White House Correspondents' Dinner was not hit by friendly fire, sources say By Nicole Sganga Nicole Sganga Homeland Security and Justice Correspondent Nicole Sganga is CBS News' homeland security and justice correspondent. She is based in Washington, D.C., and reports for all shows and platforms. Read Full Bio Nicole Sganga Updated on: April 29, 2026 / 8:01 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google The round that struck a U.S. Secret Service officer during Saturday's shooting outside the ballroom where the White House Correspondents' Dinner was taking place was not friendly fire, multiple senior law enforcement officials told CBS News Wednesday.Justice Department investigators, working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives,…
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