A day after a man opened fire outside the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, D.C., Saturday night, more information is being uncovered about the accused gunman. The suspect has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old from Torrance, California, according to multiple news outlets citing law enforcement officials.
Details of the Incident
A Secret Service officer was wounded after shots were fired when a man allegedly charged a security checkpoint outside the ballroom of the Washington Hilton, where the event was being held. U.S. President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and various members of his administration were in attendance and were quickly whisked out of the hotel’s ballroom uninjured.
Suspect Background
Allen is a California Institute of Technology graduate who recently won a “teacher of the month” award, according to a Wall Street Journal report. His LinkedIn profile indicates he earned a bachelor’s degree in 2017 in mechanical engineering from the university in Pasadena, as reported by The Associated Press. In 2025, he earned a master of science degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills, according to NBC News.
Allen does not have a criminal record and is described as a “borderline genius” by a former high school volleyball teammate who spoke with NBC News. Reports say he is a part-time teacher, tutor, and video game developer.
Motive Under Investigation
Authorities said Allen was carrying two firearms and several knives when he was tackled to the ground by law enforcement, with shots fired amid the chaos. As investigators try to determine a motive behind the attack, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Sunday that Allen was likely targeting the U.S. president and members of his administration.
“From our preliminary investigation, it does appear the suspect was targeting members of the administration,” Blanche told CNN’s State of the Union Sunday morning. He also said the suspect is not cooperating with investigators.
Reactions and Aftermath
On Truth Social, Trump posted a photo Saturday night of the alleged attacker lying on the floor with his face down and his arms tied behind his back. He also shared a video of the suspect charging through a security checkpoint at the event.
Members attending the annual media event were enjoying their meal when chaos erupted. Anna Johnson, a reporter for The Associated Press, described the scene: “People were just starting to eat their salads, and perhaps moving on to the next course after that, when all of a sudden, we were being shouted at to get under the tables.” She said everyone complied with that order, while the president, vice-president, and others at the head table were taken out of the room by Secret Service.
Shortly after, armed personnel entered the ballroom and began evacuating people, with priority given to cabinet members, ambassadors, and other VIPs. Vice-President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. were among the Trump administration officials at the event.
