A Secret Service agent was struck by buckshot during an attempted attack on the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner held at a Washington hotel on April 25, federal prosecutors said. The attacker, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, attempted to storm the event armed with a Mossberg pump-action shotgun and knives, according to authorities.

Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, confirmed that the buckshot pellets embedded in the officer’s bullet-resistant vest came from Allen’s weapon. Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Pirro stated that forensic analysis established a pellet from the buckshot was intertwined with the fibers of the vest worn by the Secret Service agent. This evidence contradicts earlier questions about whether the officer might have been hit by friendly fire during the incident.

Allen was injured in the confrontation but was not shot, and the agent survived the encounter. Following the attack, the suspect was taken into custody and remains detained pending trial. Allen’s legal representatives recently informed the court that he had been removed from suicide watch and sought to withdraw a prior motion requesting his release from such supervision. A request for comment from Allen’s attorneys was not answered.

Footage shared by the U.S. attorney last week showed the moment Allen tried to breach security and enter the gala with firearms and bladed weapons. The event was underway at the time and included journalists, government officials, and other notable attendees. The motivations behind Allen’s actions and his intended target were not detailed in the statements, though initial reports indicated an attempt to target then-President Donald Trump, who attended the dinner.

Authorities continue to investigate the full circumstances surrounding the incident as security protocols at high-profile events remain under scrutiny. The case has raised concerns about potential gaps in event security and the risks faced by both protectors and public figures in such environments.