A U.S. Secret Service agent was spared a serious injury when his mobile phone stopped the path of a bullet during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, according to a report.
The agent, whose identity has not been disclosed, was discharged from the hospital he had been admitted to following the serious incident that took place at the Washington Hilton hotel, where Washington Hilton was hosting the event. Former President Donald Trump was also present, along with his wife Melania Trump and senior U.S. government officials.
Video captured the moment an armed man rushed toward the area where metal detectors were located in the hotel lobby. The attacker fired at least once, striking the bulletproof vest of a Secret Service agent from the United States Secret Service.
According to a brief report by authorities cited by The Atlantic, the bullet was partially stopped thanks to the agent’s mobile phone.
The Secret Service communications chief, Anthony Guglielmi, said that the protective equipment “likely helped prevent a potential tragedy.”
The suspect was identified as 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen, a Kamala Harris active supporter, after gunshots were heard outside a ballroom where approximately 2,500 people were present — including President Donald Trump, Melania Trump, and JD Vance — during the annual event.
The president described the suspect as a “lonely and paranoid individual” following the incident, which occurred at around 8:35 p.m. local time on Saturday at the Washington Hilton.
Allen was carrying a rifle, a handgun, and multiple knives. Authorities found a manifesto with “anti-Christian” content, which he had sent to relatives shortly before the attack, in which he referred to himself as the “Friendly Federal Assassin.”
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche revealed that initial findings suggest Allen had targeted government officials, with the president likely among them.
Allen graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 2017 with a degree in mechanical engineering. According to his LinkedIn profile, he was a member of the university’s Christian community as well as the NERF club. NERF weapons are toy blasters that fire soft darts and are popular among both children and adults. Allen participated in the university’s NERF team during his studies in the early 2010s.
Allen is expected to appear in federal court on Monday, facing charges including assault on a federal officer, use of a firearm, and potentially attempted murder.
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