The shooting occurred at approximately 20:35 ET at the Washington Hilton, where President Trump and other administration officials were attending a dinner. According to officials, several shots were fired, and one hit a Secret Service agent who was wearing a vest and was lightly injured. Secret Service agents rushed to Trump and escorted him and his cabinet out of the room shortly after the shots were heard. Allen was tackled and arrested; he was not injured but was evaluated at a hospital. He is expected in court on Monday facing firearm and assault charges, including assaulting an officer with a deadly weapon, according to officials. Trump wrote on Truth Social at 21:17 that the alleged gunman had been apprehended, and later held a news conference at 22:30 alongside FBI chief Kash Patel and Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche. US media named the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen at about 22:50, citing multiple sources. Live pictures showed a police search of a property in Torrance, California at about 23:10.
According to reports, Allen allegedly sent a manifesto to family members about 10 minutes before opening fire. The manifesto mocked 'insane' security failures at the venue, and Allen wrote that he walked in with multiple weapons without raising suspicion. According to the manifesto, administration officials, including possibly the president, were targets. Allen referred to Trump as a 'pedophile, rapist, and traitor' in the manifesto, and wrote that he used buckshot to minimize casualties. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Trump and other administration officials were likely intended targets. Trump said the manifesto shows Allen hates Christians. Trump also said he felt like a 'pinata' after multiple attempts on his life, and called the shooting a 'total shock' despite previous attempts. Trump criticized CBS News anchor Norah O'Donnell for reading excerpts of the manifesto, calling her a 'disgrace'.
It was f***ing awesome. I've never been so scared and so excited at the same time.
According to surveillance footage, Allen rushed through security without being stopped initially. Swedish journalist Ginna Lindberg, who was at the dinner, told TV4 Nyheterna that she heard four or five shots and described lying under tables. Lindberg noted there was no ID check, only a metal detector and bag check. RFK Jr. was escorted out and, according to Metro - Main, described himself as 'very hungry'. Cheryl Hines, according to Metro - Main, said security 'lifted her over chairs' to escape. Allen was staying as a guest at the Washington Hilton hotel, police said. There is a minor discrepancy in witness accounts regarding the number of shots fired: four or five shots were heard, while some reports say a handful of shots were fired. Additionally, there are conflicting reports on where Allen was stopped: some say he was overpowered before entering the venue, while others say he rushed through security but was stopped in the stairs area.
According to online profiles, Allen has a master's degree in computer science from California State University-Dominguez Hills and a bachelor's in mechanical engineering from Caltech. According to an online resume and company Facebook, Allen worked as a tutor at C2 Education for six years and was named teacher of the month in 2024. According to online posts, Allen developed a video game for Steam based on molecular chemistry and was working on a top-down shooter game. According to federal officers, Allen's sister said he bought several weapons, including a .38-caliber pistol and a 12-gauge shotgun, stored at their parents' home.
I heard four or five shots. We all lay under the tables. It was terrifying.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Allen likely acted alone and has not cooperated with investigators. Trump said the impression is that the suspect was a lone wolf. US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said authorities plan to formally charge the suspect in federal court on Monday. Trump said the event will be rescheduled. UFC CEO Dana White, who was sitting at the head table near President Trump, according to major media (2 sources), described the experience as 'f***ing awesome' according to The Independent - Main. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the motive and how Allen managed to bring multiple weapons past security.
There was no ID check, only a metal detector and bag check. It was very easy to get in.
Security lifted me over chairs to get me out. It was chaotic.