The man accused of opening fire near the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, where President Trump and other senior administration officials were attending, is scheduled to appear in federal court today.
Authorities say 31-year-old Cole Allen will be arraigned on charges that include using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said. Police have not formally named Allen as the suspect, but NPR confirmed his identity with two people familiar with the investigation who were not authorized to speak publicly.
Officials say the suspect charged through a security perimeter at the Washington Hilton, near the ballroom hosting the annual event, before being stopped and taken into custody. One Secret Service agent was struck in his protective vest and sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Video from the scene shows Secret Service agents surrounding President Trump and Vice President Vance and escorting them out of the ballroom after shots were heard. Reporters and other guests sheltered under tables as federal officers swarmed the room.
At a White House briefing after the incident, Trump commented on the risks of the presidency, saying he tries not to dwell on them and that he handles the danger as best he can. In a later social media post, Trump shared a video appearing to show a man sprinting through a security checkpoint as agents turned and drew weapons; those in the ballroom could be heard reacting to muffled pops. Trump initially said he wanted the dinner to continue but later left at law enforcement’s request and said organizers planned to reschedule the event.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said on NBC’s Meet the Press that preliminary investigation suggests the suspect was targeting administration officials.
According to police and the Metropolitan Police Department, the suspect is believed to have acted alone. Officers recovered two firearms and multiple knives at the scene.
White House officials told NPR that Allen allegedly sent family members a manifesto saying he intended to target members of the Trump administration. An official said Allen’s sister told law enforcement her brother often made radical statements and had hinted at doing “something” to fix the world’s problems. She also said Allen bought two handguns and a shotgun and stored them at his parents’ home without their knowledge.
Details about Allen began to emerge after the attack. A LinkedIn page that appears to belong to him describes him as a mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, an independent game developer by experience and a teacher by background. The profile lists part-time work as a tutor with C2 Education, which awarded him a teacher-of-the-month honor in December 2024. One of his students described him as quirky and very smart, not someone who seemed likely to plan an attack.
Movses Janbazian, pastor at Pasadena United Reformed Church, said Allen attended services while a student at the California Institute of Technology and remembered him as a quiet, friendly person who was faithful in attendance but not otherwise involved in church activities.
Federal Election Commission records show a $25 donation Allen made in October 2024 via ActBlue, earmarked for Kamala Harris’ campaign.
Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Correspondents’ Association and a CBS News journalist, called the shooting a “harrowing moment,” saying the WHCA board would meet to assess the situation and determine next steps.
NPR reporting contributed by Danielle Kurtzleben, Ryan Lucas, Lydia Calitri, Steve Futterman, Deepa Shivaram and Ava Berger.
