A 31-year-old man from California has been identified as the accused in the shooting during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner event, where gunshots were reported outside the venue, officials said.
The accused, Cole Tomas Allen, a resident of Torrance in the Los Angeles area, was arrested on Saturday after allegedly opening fire near the Washington Hilton hotel, where the annual dinner was being held. Authorities said he was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives at the time of the incident.
Washington Interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll said investigators believe Allen was a guest at the hotel. Security personnel, including Secret Service agents, engaged after shots were fired outside the ballroom hosting the event, which was attended by President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and several cabinet members.
According to CBS, between five and eight shots were fired during the incident. Police confirmed there was an exchange of fire between security officials and the suspect. Carroll said Allen was not struck but was taken into custody and later hospitalised for evaluation. Authorities described him as a lone actor.
Visuals shared on social media showed a man being restrained by security personnel, while CCTV footage appeared to capture a suspect moving past officers moments before the incident. Images circulated online were said to match Allen’s profile photo.
During questioning, Allen allegedly told investigators he intended to target officials from the Trump administration, according to media reports. Following his arrest, law enforcement agencies, including FBI personnel, conducted searches at a location in California linked to him.
Public records show Allen had made a small political donation in 2024 to a Democratic Party-affiliated political action committee supporting Kamala Harris.
Allen holds a master’s degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology, which confirmed his academic background. He had previously been featured in a local television report for developing a prototype emergency braking system for wheelchairs.
Professionally, Allen had been working for the past six years at C2 Education, a firm specialising in admissions counselling and test preparation, where he was recognised as Teacher of the Month in December 2024. However, the Torrance Unified School District clarified that he had never been employed with them.
His online profiles describe him as an independent game developer and educator, with experience in designing video games, including a chemistry-based project and a space-themed combat game.
Investigations into the motive and circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing.
