The shooting occurred at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, an annual event attended by journalists, politicians, and celebrities. Witnesses reported hearing five to eight shots, according to multiple accounts. President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were safely evacuated from the venue, officials confirmed. A Secret Service agent was struck in a bulletproof vest but is expected to recover, three sources reported. Members of the National Guard were deployed inside the hotel as a precaution, according to three sources.
Authorities identified the suspect as Cole Thomas Allen, a 31-year-old man from Torrance, California. The U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, announced that Allen is being charged with two counts of using a firearm and one count of assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon. Major media outlets reported that Allen is scheduled to appear in court on Monday to be formally charged with firearms and assault offenses. The suspect was transported to a local hospital for evaluation, according to three sources. Law enforcement officials said Allen was detained near the hotel's screening area.
Investigators believe the suspect may have been targeting members of the Trump administration and had planned the attack. Officials said Allen wrote a manifesto stating his intent to target administration officials, which he sent to family members shortly before the incident. President Donald Trump said writings found suggest the suspect intended to go after administration officials. The alleged manifesto, as quoted by major media, labeled Trump a 'pedophile and rapist.' Trump vehemently denied those accusations during a 60 Minutes interview, calling journalist Norah O'Donnell 'disgraceful' for reading the manifesto quotes aloud. According to his LinkedIn profile, Allen describes himself as a game developer, engineer, scientist, and teacher. He received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Caltech in 2017 and a master's in computer science from Cal State Dominguez Hills in May 2025.
Law enforcement officials provided details of the sequence of events. The suspect allegedly opened fire and was taken into custody after exchanging gunfire with law enforcement. The White House said Allen's brother contacted police in New London, Connecticut, after receiving the manifesto message, alerting authorities just minutes before the shooting. Officials believe Allen worked alone, armed with a shotgun, handgun, and multiple knives, and charged into the hotel lobby area attempting to breach a Secret Service checkpoint. The suspect is believed to have been a guest at the Washington Hilton, according to officials.
FBI agents and Torrance Police have gathered outside a home in Torrance where the suspect is believed to have lived, according to three sources. Law enforcement sources said authorities are waiting for a search warrant and will soon make entry. Nancy Castles, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Red Cross, said the organization set up an evacuation center at Carson Park for people unable to return to their homes due to police presence. Castles confirmed that two houses were definitely evacuated. Torrance Mayor George Chen was on the scene at 11:30 pm Saturday, according to three sources.
In a related development, President Donald Trump endorsed Steve Hilton in the California gubernatorial race. The California gubernatorial primary is scheduled for June 2, 2026. Democratic candidates for governor include Xavier Becera, Eric Swalwell, and Antonio Villaraigosa. Trump's endorsement may hurt Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, another Republican candidate, according to three sources.
Several questions remain unanswered. The exact motive of the suspect has not been determined, and it is unclear how he obtained the weapons. Authorities have not confirmed whether the suspect was known to law enforcement prior to the incident. The condition of the injured officer has not been updated beyond initial reports. There is a discrepancy in the suspect's middle name: some sources spell it as 'Thomas' while others use 'Tomas,' which could indicate a reporting error. Additionally, while authorities have formally identified the suspect as Cole Thomas Allen, some reports suggest formal identification has not been completed, raising questions about identification accuracy. The nature of the officer's injury also differs between sources: one says the officer was shot, while another says the agent was struck in a bulletproof vest.