Suspect in White House Correspondents’ Dinner Shooting Apprehended

Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old educator and engineer from Torrance, California, was arrested after attempting to attack the White House Correspondents’ Dinner held Saturday night at the Washington Hilton Hotel. Authorities said Allen fired between five and eight shots at a security checkpoint outside the event, which was attended by President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other top officials. A Secret Service officer was struck by at least one bullet but was protected by a bulletproof vest and is expected to recover fully.

Allen was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives when he charged through metal detectors toward the ballroom. Law enforcement exchanged gunfire with him before taking him into custody. He was not shot but was hospitalized for evaluation. President Trump posted a photo on social media showing the suspect shirtless and restrained on the hotel floor after his arrest.

Investigators found a written manifesto in Allen’s hotel room expressing anti-Trump and anti-Christian sentiments. The writings, some of which Allen sent to family members before the attack, indicated he intended to target officials in the Trump administration rather than hotel guests or employees. A senior U.S. official said Allen’s brother alerted police after receiving these documents. Allen’s sister described him to law enforcement as someone who frequently made radical statements and referenced plans to “fix” the world’s problems.

Allen holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology, earned in 2017, and a master’s degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills, obtained in 2025. He worked as a mechanical engineer, an independent video game developer, and a part-time teacher at C2 Education, a tutoring company in Torrance. He received a “Teacher of the Month” award in December 2024. Former classmates and colleagues described him as polite, soft-spoken, and a good student, expressing shock at the incident.

Law enforcement sources said Allen legally purchased the firearms used in the attack, with the shotgun bought in August 2025 and the handgun in October 2023. His family was reportedly unaware that he kept firearms at home, though he regularly trained at shooting ranges. Allen traveled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago and then to Washington, D.C., checking into the hotel the day before the event.

Authorities believe Allen acted alone. The FBI and Secret Service are conducting ongoing investigations into his background and motives. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced that Allen will face charges including using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon. An arraignment is scheduled for Monday, with additional charges possible as the investigation continues.

President Trump praised the Secret Service’s response and confirmed that all attendees, including the First Lady and Cabinet members, were unharmed. He described the sound of gunfire as resembling a dinner tray falling and said he had spoken with the injured officer. The White House Correspondents’ Dinner will be rescheduled within 30 days, according to Trump, who noted this was his first attendance as president.