The shooting occurred at approximately 20:35 ET at the Washington Hilton, where Trump and administration officials were attending an event. According to reports, several shots were fired, and one bullet struck a Secret Service agent who was wearing a bulletproof vest, resulting in minor injuries. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told NBC News that Trump and other officials were likely intended targets. Trump later wrote on Truth Social that the alleged gunman had been apprehended at 21:17, and he shared footage of the incident and a photograph of the suspect at 22:29. At 22:30, Trump held a news conference at the White House alongside FBI Director Kash Patel and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from California, is the suspected gunman, according to multiple reports. Online profiles indicate that Allen earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Caltech in 2017 and a master's in computer science from California State University-Dominguez Hills. According to an online resume and a company Facebook post, Allen worked for six years at C2 Education as a tutor and was named teacher of the month in 2024. Posts under Allen's name show that he developed a video game for Steam based on molecular chemistry and was working on a 'top-down shooter' game.
According to reports, Allen allegedly sent a manifesto to family members about 10 minutes before opening fire. The manifesto mocked security failures at the venue, claiming he walked in armed without raising suspicion. It stated that administration officials, excluding FBI Director Kash Patel, were targets, prioritized from highest to lowest. Allen referred to Trump as a 'pedophile, rapist, and traitor' in the manifesto, according to the document.
F***ing awesome. I took every minute of it in.
Surveillance footage released by police shows Allen rushing through a security checkpoint without being stopped initially. However, there is a contradiction: some reports suggest Allen was overpowered before he entered the ballroom, while others indicate he was stopped before entering. According to police, Allen was carrying multiple weapons including guns and knives. Allen's sister told federal officers that he had purchased several weapons, including a .38-caliber semi-automatic pistol and a 12-gauge shotgun, stored at their parents' home.
Secret Service agents rushed to Trump and escorted him and his cabinet out of the room shortly after shots were heard. Police said Allen was tackled to the ground and not injured, but was evaluated at a hospital. Trump wrote on Truth Social that he was leaving the Washington Hilton at the request of law enforcement at 21:36. The suspect was apprehended without further incident.
Allen is expected in court on Monday facing firearm and assault charges, including assaulting an officer with a deadly weapon, according to authorities. US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said authorities plan to formally charge the suspect in federal court on Monday. Blanche told CNN that Allen likely acted alone and has not cooperated with investigators. The investigation is ongoing.
I heard four or five shots and we lay under the tables.
Trump told Fox News that the manifesto shows Allen hates Christians. In a 60 Minutes interview with CBS's Norah O'Donnell, Trump called her a 'disgrace' for reading excerpts of the manifesto and denied being a rapist or pedophile in response to the manifesto claims. Trump said the impression is that the suspect was a lone wolf.
Swedish journalist Ginna Lindberg, who was at the dinner, told TV4 Nyheterna that she heard four or five shots and lay under the tables. She noted there was no ID check at the event, only a metal detector and bag check. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was also present, was escorted out and remarked he was 'very hungry' after being forced to leave as starters were served, according to a post by his son.
According to The Independent - Main, UFC CEO Dana White described the shooting as 'f***ing awesome' and said he 'took every minute of it in.' The comment drew criticism given the seriousness of the incident.
Unanswered questions remain about Allen's exact motive beyond the manifesto statements, how he obtained the weapons, and how he bypassed security. The full extent of injuries is also unclear, as only the Secret Service agent has been reported injured. The investigation continues to determine if any security measures failed and what specific charges Allen will face.