The shooting occurred at about 20:35 ET at the Washington Hilton hotel, where the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner was underway. Guests took cover as shots rang out, and Secret Service agents immediately surrounded President Trump and escorted him and his cabinet out of the room. At 21:17, Trump wrote on Truth Social that the alleged gunman had been apprehended, and at 21:36 he said he was leaving the hotel at the request of law enforcement. By 22:29, Trump shared footage appearing to show the start of the shooting and a photograph of the suspect, and at 22:30 he held a news conference from the White House alongside FBI chief Kash Patel and Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche. About 22:50, US media named the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, citing multiple sources. About 23:10, live pictures showed a police search of a property in Torrance, California. About 23:15, US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said authorities plan to formally charge the suspect in federal court on Monday.
Police said the suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, was a guest at the hotel and was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives. According to law enforcement sources, Allen told investigators he wanted to shoot Trump administration officials. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said President Trump and administration officials were likely the intended targets. Police stated that Allen acted alone. The New York Post reported that Allen sent a manifesto critical of President Trump before the attack, in which he stated he wanted to kill Trump administration officials except FBI Director Kash Patel. At the press conference, Trump said the suspect's manifesto showed he hated Christians, and added that the impression was that the suspect was a lone wolf.
The suspect's manifesto showed he hated Christians.
Allen graduated from Caltech in 2017 with a degree in mechanical engineering, according to the university. He worked as a teacher at C2 Education and was named Teacher of the Month in December 2024, the company confirmed. CBS News, the BBC's US partner, reported that Allen worked as a tutor in Torrance after graduating from Caltech.
A Secret Service agent was hit by a bullet but was wearing a vest and suffered minor injuries, police said. The suspect was not injured but was taken to hospital for evaluation. Federal prosecutors said Allen will face federal charges including assault on federal officers and firearm charges. US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said authorities plan to formally charge the suspect in federal court on Monday. Allen is expected to be formally charged on Monday, according to the US Attorney for the District of Columbia.
The alleged gunman has been apprehended.
The exact number of shots fired remains unclear. CBS sources reported that 5 to 8 shots were fired, while a journalist at the scene said they heard 4 to 5 shots. There is also a discrepancy over whether the suspect exchanged fire with security: police said security and the suspect exchanged fire, but other sources do not mention an exchange of fire. The exact motive of the suspect has not been determined, and it is unknown how he obtained the weapons or whether he was known to law enforcement prior to the attack. No other injuries have been reported beyond the Secret Service agent.
I was leaving the Washington Hilton at the request of law enforcement.
The impression is that the suspect was a lone wolf.