What to Know About the Suspect in Shooting at Trump Dinner
A 31-year-old man, Cole Thomas Allen, has been identified by US authorities as the suspect in a shooting outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC.
The incident occurred on Saturday night at the Washington Hilton, where roughly 2,500 guests—including Donald Trump and Melania Trump—were attending the high-profile annual event. Attendees were swiftly evacuated after multiple gunshots were reported outside the ballroom.
The Washington Hilton has previously been the site of presidential violence. In 1981, then-President Ronald Reagan was shot and wounded outside the same hotel in an assassination attempt.
What happened
According to police, the suspect forced his way through a security checkpoint before engaging in an altercation with law enforcement. He was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives, and exchanged gunfire with a Secret Service agent during the confrontation.
The officer was struck but not injured due to wearing a bulletproof vest. The suspect was subsequently subdued, tackled to the ground and taken into custody at the scene.
Jeffrey Carroll, interim chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, said authorities believe the suspect acted alone, though his motive remains unclear.
Who is Cole Thomas Allen?
Investigators say Allen is from Torrance, California, southwest of Los Angeles, and was not previously known to law enforcement.
Details from his verified LinkedIn profile show he holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from California Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in computer science from California State University Dominguez Hills.
He is said to have worked for about six years at C2 Education and described himself as an independent game developer working on a space-themed combat game.
Charges and investigation
US authorities, including Jeanine Pirro, have confirmed that the suspect faces firearms and assault-related charges. Police say Allen may have been staying at the Washington Hilton, and a hotel room linked to him has been secured as part of the ongoing investigation.
Trump’s response and prior threats
Speaking after the incident, Donald Trump suggested he may have been the intended target, describing the suspect as a “lone wolf.”
The event marked Trump’s first attendance at the correspondents’ dinner as president. He has previously survived two assassination attempts in 2024, including a shooting at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
