The shooting occurred during the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton, which had 2,600 attendees. President Donald Trump was likely the target, Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche said. After shots were heard, Trump was rushed off the stage unhurt, and he and his Cabinet members are all safe, according to multiple reports.
The suspect has been identified by police as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen. He will likely be formally charged in court on Monday, according to Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche. The suspect is not cooperating with prosecutors, Blanche said.
Trump wrote a Truth Social post endorsing Hilton, calling him a 'truly fine man' and criticizing Gavin Newsom and Democrats.
Allen booked a hotel room at the Washington Hilton weeks in advance and traveled by train from his home outside Los Angeles to Chicago and then to D.C., according to research from three sources. The gunman acted alone and set out from his home in California last week before arriving in D.C. and checking into the Hilton on Friday with two firearms and a knife he had purchased years before, according to Blanche. Social media accounts linked to Allen describe him as a self-employed video game designer and a part-time teacher, whose employer named him in 2024 as 'Teacher of the Month'. Allen earned an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in 2017 and a master's degree in computer science from California State University last year, according to profiles and two law enforcement officials.
According to a missive sent to family members moments before the attack, the suspect identified himself as a 'friendly federal assassin'. The missive also railed against Trump administration policies. Authorities said interviews with family members and writings recovered from Allen's home and hotel room contributed to confidence that his attack was politically motivated. Law enforcement officials said the suspect aimed to target top officials, including possibly the president himself. Blanche said the suspect 'did in fact set out to target folks in the administration, likely including the president'.
Hilton said he is honored to receive Trump's endorsement and outlined his campaign goals.
Law enforcement officials said the gunman stormed the security perimeter at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, exchanging gunfire with Secret Service agents. The gunman stormed the security checkpoints in the lobby of the Washington Hilton around 8:30 p.m., feet from the ballroom where Trump was preparing to deliver his first address to the White House Correspondents' Association as a sitting president, according to law enforcement officials. Security personnel quickly tackled the gunman to the ground, according to research from three sources.
President Donald Trump praised the Secret Service for acting quickly after the shooting incident. Trump said the event will be rescheduled. In a separate development, Trump endorsed Steve Hilton in the California gubernatorial race, according to research from three sources. Trump wrote a Truth Social post endorsing Hilton, calling him a 'truly fine man' and criticizing Gavin Newsom and Democrats. According to www.foxnews.com, Steve Hilton described being honored to receive Trump's endorsement and outlined his campaign goals.
President Donald Trump praised the Secret Service for acting quickly after the shooting incident.
Several unknowns remain. The specific weapons used by the suspect and how he obtained them have not been disclosed. The exact motive behind the attack is still under investigation, though authorities believe it was politically motivated. It is unclear how the suspect managed to get past initial security with firearms. The condition of any injured individuals has not been confirmed. The rescheduled date for the White House Correspondents' Dinner has not been announced.
Trump said the event will be rescheduled.