California Man Arrested After Opening Fire at White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington

Suspect Named as 31-Year-Old Mechanical Engineer

Law enforcement officials have identified the man taken into custody following gunfire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner held Saturday evening at the Washington Hilton as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old resident of Torrance, California.

Security personnel apprehended Allen after the shooting incident inside the hotel. According to two sources who spoke with CBS News, the suspect told law enforcement that he intended to target officials within the Trump administration.

Investigation Reveals Administration Was Intended Target

During an appearance on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday, acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that while the investigation into the suspect's motivations remains ongoing, preliminary findings indicate Allen was attempting to target administration officials, and likely President Donald Trump himself. Investigators are examining evidence suggesting the alleged gunman assembled the weapon inside the hotel premises.

Blanche emphasized that the suspect "didn't get very far" and "barely broke the perimeter." According to investigators, Allen likely traveled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago before proceeding to Washington DC.

Multiple Weapons Recovered

Washington Interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll disclosed that the suspect was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives. Security officials and the suspect exchanged gunfire during the incident, though Carroll noted that Allen was not struck. He was transported to a hospital for medical evaluation.

CBS News reported that between five and eight shots were fired during the confrontation. Police Chief Carroll stated that "at this point, it does appear he is a lone actor, a lone gunman."

Document Suggests Targeted Attack Plan

Multiple US media outlets, citing law enforcement sources, have reported on a written document believed to be associated with Allen. The document describes a plan to target Trump administration members "from highest-ranking to lowest," while acknowledging that hotel guests and staff were not the intended targets, though they would be attacked if necessary to reach officials.

President Trump stated on Fox News that the suspect possessed "a lot of hatred in his heart for a while" and referenced a "manifesto." Trump also described Allen as "strongly anti-Christian."

Background Information Emerges

Public records and social media analysis reveal several details about Allen's background:

• Allen describes himself professionally as a mechanical engineer, game developer, and educator on LinkedIn
• He studied mechanical engineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
• He earned a master's degree in computer science in 2025 from California State University, Dominguez Hills
• He developed and released a video game titled "Bohrdom" on the Steam platform
• In December 2024, Allen was named teacher of the month by C2 Education, where he has worked part-time since 2020
• Los Angeles County voter registration records indicate he registered with no party preference
• According to Federal Election Commission records, Allen donated $25 to ActBlue in October 2024, with funds designated for Kamala Harris' presidential campaign

Social media posts attributed to Allen reportedly contained anti-Trump content, according to law enforcement sources cited by US media.

Legal Charges Filed

US Attorney for Washington Jeanine Pirro announced that Allen now faces two federal charges: using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon. He is scheduled for formal charges in federal court on Monday.