Shots fired at WHCD as Trump evacuated from hotel

The incident unfolded at approximately 20:35 ET when shots were heard at the Washington Hilton, where the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner was taking place. Guests took cover as Secret Service agents rushed to President Trump and escorted him and his cabinet out of the room shortly after the shots. President Trump and Vice President JD Vance were evacuated from the event, according to multiple reports. The Secret Service confirmed that a Secret Service agent was hit by a bullet but was wearing a vest and suffered minor injuries, police said.

The suspect was identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, a guest at the Washington Hilton hotel, police said. He was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives, according to police. Allen graduated from Caltech in 2017 with a degree in mechanical engineering, Caltech confirmed. He worked as a teacher at C2 Education and was named Teacher of the Month in December 2024, according to C2 Education. President Trump described Allen as a 'lone wolf' and 'kook' and noted that he has no criminal record, according to Trump.

According to law enforcement sources, Allen told law enforcement he wanted to shoot Trump administration officials. 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. The authenticity of the manifesto and its full contents remain unclear.

Police said Allen acted alone. He was not injured during the incident but was taken to hospital for evaluation, police said. Federal prosecutors said Allen is expected to face federal charges including assault on federal officers and firearm charges. The acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the president and other administration officials were likely targets, according to Blanche. US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said authorities plan to formally charge Allen in federal court on Monday, according to Pirro.

At 21:17, Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that the alleged gunman has been apprehended. At 21:36, Trump said he was leaving the Washington Hilton at the request of law enforcement, according to www.bbc.com. At 22:29, Trump shared footage that appears to show the start of the shooting and a photograph of the suspect. At 22:30, Trump held a news conference from the White House alongside FBI chief Kash Patel and Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche. Trump said the impression is that the suspect was a lone wolf, according to Trump. 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, according to Pirro.

Several details remain unclear. The exact number of shots fired is disputed: CBS sources reported 5-8 shots, while a journalist heard 4-5 shots. Whether the suspect exchanged fire with security is also unclear: police said security and the suspect exchanged fire, but other sources do not mention an exchange of fire. The suspect's exact motive, how he obtained the weapons, and how he bypassed security measures at the event are still under investigation. According to The Independent - Main, Dana White described the shooting as 'f****g awesome'. According to The Independent - Main, Donald Trump said the event would be rescheduled.