A 31-year-old suspect identified as Cole Allen is in custody following a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC, with authorities continuing to investigate his background and possible motives, media reports said late Saturday.
Citing official statements and eyewitness accounts, the reports identified Allen as being from California, later confirmed by US President Donald Trump, who called the suspect “a very sick person" and said he was thought to have acted alone.
Trump, along with the first lady and several top Cabinet members, was escorted out of the Washington Hilton ballroom, where the event was taking place, by Secret Service. Shortly afterward, he said the suspect had been "apprehended" and shared photos of him on the ground, shirtless, along with blurry security footage of what appeared to be a figure darting past security agents.
While officials have said no clear motive was immediately clear, Blanche said Allen intended to shoot Trump administration officials.
Officials said the suspect was armed with multiple weapons, including a shotgun, a handgun, and several knives. Metropolitan Police interim chief Jeff Carroll said he was also a guest at the hotel hosting the dinner.
Citing law enforcement sources, CBS News reported that Allen checked into the Washington Hilton on Friday, the day before the event. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said he had traveled to Washington by train from Los Angeles to Chicago, then on to the capital.
The suspect is reported to have earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from California State University, and Cole Allen appears among computer science graduates in the May 2025 commencement program of California State University, Dominguez Hills.
According to law enforcement sources cited by CBS News, Allen worked as a teacher with C2 Education in Torrance, a private tutoring service, and was named “Teacher of the Month” in December 2024, according to a Facebook post. It is unclear whether he was still employed there at the time of the incident.
Allen left behind a written manifesto in which he referred to himself as a "Friendly Federal Assassin" and outlined his intent to target Trump administration officials, ranked from highest to lowest, the New York Post reported.
He apparently referred to the president in derogatory terms, writing that he was "no longer willing" to be implicated in his alleged crimes. He also wrote that he chose buckshot ammunition over slugs to minimize casualties through walls.
Allen shared portions of the writings with a family member before the attack. His brother subsequently contacted the police in New London, Connecticut, upon receiving the note. His sister told authorities after the shooting that Allen had a tendency to make radical statements and had spoken of a plan to do "something" to address his grievances with the world, NBC News reported.
However, CNN reported, citing an unnamed source, that while Allen sent the manifesto, the family did not read or report the writings to law enforcement until after the shooting. Another source said that the FBI was still actively investigating the precise timeline of when the family received and reported the material.
Trump said he wished the family had reported the warning signs more forcefully.
Trump told Fox News that the manifesto revealed intense anti-Christian hatred. "He hates Christians. That's one thing for sure," he said.
Federal records show Allen legally purchased a .38-caliber semi-automatic pistol in October 2023 and a 12-gauge shotgun in August 2025, both from stores in southern California, CNN reported, citing ATF investigators.
Federal campaign finance records also show Allen donated $25 to the Democratic PAC ActBlue for Kamala Harris's 2024 presidential campaign, according to CBS News. Investigators also found anti-Trump and anti-Christian rhetoric on his social media accounts, according to CBS News.
The suspect is reported to have earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from California State University, and Allen appears among computer science graduates in the May 2025 commencement program of California State University, Dominguez Hills.
According to law enforcement sources cited by CBS News, Allen worked as a teacher with C2 Education in Torrance, a private tutoring service, and was named “Teacher of the Month” in December 2024, according to a Facebook post. It is unclear whether he was still employed there at the time of the incident.
Speaking after the incident, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said the suspect reportedly “rushed a Secret Service checkpoint” in a lobby before being stopped by agents.
An officer was shot during the incident but survived thanks to a bulletproof vest he was wearing.
“He was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job,” Trump said, adding the officer was “in great shape.”
Witness accounts provided additional details about the suspect’s actions before the shooting.
A volunteer at the event, Helen Mabus, told the New York Post that the suspect appeared to assemble a “long” weapon in a lightly monitored area near a terrace-level entrance.
“He grabbed it out of a bag or something … it was long and didn’t look like a typical gun,” the daily quoted her as saying.
Mabus said the suspect was partially out of view of security while handling the weapon in a “makeshift room” used for storing bar carts.
“He put it together and … ran towards the stairs to go down to the ballroom,” she recounted.
Mabus said the suspect then began firing in multiple directions, estimating she heard at least 10 shots. “It just seemed like he was shooting all over the place,” she said, describing panic among guests.
Authorities said the suspect was later apprehended and transported to a hospital for evaluation.
Jeanine Pirro, US attorney for the District of Columbia, said the suspect would face two charges and is expected to be arraigned in federal court on Monday. Blanche said additional charges may follow, noting that the investigation was ongoing.
FBI Director Kash Patel, who was also at the dinner, said the bureau had begun examining the suspect’s background and would “analyze all evidence immediately.”
The incident occurred during the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel, where President Trump, first lady Melania Trump, and other high-level figures were present.
Witnesses reported hearing loud “pop, pop, pop” sounds, prompting guests to take cover under tables as security forces responded.
The Trump couple, Vice President JD Vance, and Cabinet members were evacuated from the head table, while other guests remained inside the ballroom.
Secret Service agents and law enforcement quickly intervened, securing the scene and taking the suspect into custody as the event was halted.
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