Authorities said Cole Tomas Allen was armed with guns and knives outside the Washington Hilton ballroom.
WASHINGTON — A 31-year-old California man was identified Sunday as the suspect in a shooting that disrupted the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, forced President Donald Trump from the stage and left a Secret Service officer recovering from a gunshot impact.
Cole Tomas Allen, of Torrance, California, was taken into custody Saturday night at the Washington Hilton after authorities said a man armed with guns and knives rushed toward the ballroom where Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Cabinet officials, journalists and guests had gathered. Federal and local officials said the president was not hurt. Investigators were reviewing the suspect’s travel, hotel stay, writings, electronic devices and possible motive.
The attack unfolded minutes after the annual dinner began. Guests were inside the hotel’s large ballroom when shots were heard outside the room, sending people under tables and drawing Secret Service agents toward the stage. Trump was rushed away by his security detail after agents first covered him in place. Vance was removed earlier, and first lady Melania Trump also was escorted from the room. “They seem to think he was a lone wolf,” Trump said later at the White House, still wearing his tuxedo. Authorities said there was no immediate sign that anyone else was involved.
Police said the suspect had been staying at the Washington Hilton, a hotel that has hosted the dinner for years. Investigators secured a room linked to him and began reviewing what was inside. Video posted by Trump appeared to show a man running past security barricades as agents moved toward him. Officials said one officer was struck in a bullet-resistant vest and was recovering. The suspect was tackled, taken into custody and evaluated at a hospital. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said the suspect was in custody and that officials had no reason to believe there was a wider threat.
Two law enforcement officials identified the suspect as Allen, according to reports based on the ongoing investigation. Reuters and The Associated Press said Allen was a Los Angeles-area resident whose online records described him as a part-time teacher, tutor and independent game developer. A LinkedIn profile in his name said he earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in 2017 and a master’s degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills, in 2025. Caltech confirmed a person with that name graduated in 2017.
Allen’s online work history listed several years at C2 Education, a tutoring and college test-preparation company. A company social media post from 2024 named him teacher of the month, according to news reports. His profile also described him as a former Caltech teaching assistant and a self-employed game developer. A California State University, Dominguez Hills computer science professor, Bin Tang, told The Associated Press that Allen had taken classes from him and described him as polite, soft-spoken and a strong student. The company and others tied to Allen had not released detailed public statements about the case as of Sunday.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Sunday that investigators believe the suspect traveled by train from California to Chicago and then to Washington before checking into the hotel. Blanche said investigators reviewing electronic devices and writings preliminarily believe the suspect intended to target members of the Trump administration, likely including the president. “He failed,” Blanche said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” “Law enforcement did their jobs.” Officials said the suspect was not cooperating with investigators and was expected to face multiple charges Monday.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the defendant was being charged with two counts and was expected to be arraigned Monday. Early reports described the counts as firearm-related, including assaulting an officer with a deadly weapon. Pirro said further charges were likely as investigators reviewed the scene and the suspect’s background. “It is clear, based upon what we know so far, this individual was intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could,” Pirro said. Officials said agents recovered weapons from the scene, including a shotgun, a handgun and knives.
The shooting instantly raised questions about security at one of Washington’s highest-profile media and political events. The Washington Hilton has long hosted the dinner, and the hotel often remains open to regular guests during the gathering. Security has typically focused heavily on the ballroom and the screened event area, while the wider hotel includes public and guest spaces. The same hotel also has a major place in presidential security history. President Ronald Reagan was shot outside the Washington Hilton in 1981, leading to design changes at the property and added protections for presidents visiting the site.
Inside the ballroom Saturday night, witnesses described confusion and fear as agents moved across the room and guests tried to understand what had happened. Some people reported hearing several shots. Others first thought they had heard a dropped tray or other loud noise. Someone shouted for people to get out of the way, and others yelled for guests to duck. A chant of “God Bless America” began in one part of the room as Trump was escorted out. Outside the hotel, National Guard members and other law enforcement officers flooded the area while helicopters circled overhead.
The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner is an annual event that draws reporters, elected officials, administration staff, celebrities and political figures. The dinner often includes remarks by the president and entertainment built around the press corps and the First Amendment. This year’s event had drawn special attention because it marked Trump’s first time attending the dinner as president. Organizers initially appeared ready to resume after the disruption, with staff resetting tables and preparing the teleprompter. The event was later canceled for the night.
Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, said the dinner would be held again after the disruption. “We will do this again,” Jiang said before staff began breaking down table settings and the presidential lectern. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who attended with his wife, Kelly, said they were praying for the country. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said the violence and chaos in America must end. Trump later told reporters he hoped the dinner would be rescheduled within 30 days and called for unity after another violent incident near him.
As of April 26, Allen remained in custody, the injured officer was expected to recover and investigators were preparing for a Monday court appearance. Officials had not released a final motive, and federal agents were continuing searches, witness interviews and reviews of evidence from the hotel and California.
Author note: Last updated April 26, 2026.