Police arrested a suspected gunman who ran into the lobby outside the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at the Washington Hilton, where President Donald Trump and members of his cabinet were attending. Shots were fired, prompting the evacuation of the president and other guests from the media gala. Trump later described the incident as an attack by a would-be assassin.
Security officers shot the suspect after he forced his way through a checkpoint just outside the ballroom, where hundreds of formally dressed attendees were assembled. US media identified the man as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, though officials had not publicly confirmed that name at the time. Attendees dove under tables as Secret Service teams moved into the ballroom.
The president said the man charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons and was taken down by members of the Secret Service, and he suggested investigators may regard the suspect as a lone actor. Video circulated by the White House showed a person sprinting past security as agents drew their weapons.
Known details about the suspect
Law enforcement sources say the suspect lives in Torrance, California, a coastal city near Los Angeles. Investigators believe he was staying as a guest at the Washington Hilton, which could explain how he gained entry to the area during the event. No motive has been established and authorities continue to investigate.
Social media posts that appear to be linked to the suspect indicate he was named Teacher of the Month in December 2024 at the Torrance branch of C2 Education, a national tutoring and test-preparation company. A LinkedIn profile under his name describes him as a mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, an independent game developer by experience, and a teacher by birth.
Federal campaign finance records show a contribution of $25 to a Democratic Party political action committee supporting Kamala Harris’s 2024 presidential bid. The president said he thought it unlikely the shooting was connected to the US-Israel war or to Iran, adding that, based on what officials knew, he did not believe that was a motivating factor.
Security at the hotel
The Washington Hilton was closed to the public from midafternoon ahead of the dinner, with access limited to hotel guests, ticket holders, invitation holders for associated receptions, and WHCA-affiliated credential holders. Dozens of protesters gathered outside in the rain.
About 2,300 guests passed through multiple security checkpoints to reach the subterranean ballroom, including ticket checks and walk-through magnetometers staffed by the Secret Service and the Transportation Security Administration. Video released by the White House shows the suspect running past security officers who appear to be taking apart metal detectors after the president had already been seated; at that point, additional attendees were not being admitted to the secured area.
The Secret Service director said the footage demonstrates that multilayered protection worked, and the Metropolitan Police interim chief said the security plan functioned that evening. Still, reporters and local officials noted questions remain about how the suspect was able to reach the checkpoint and whether any gaps in the security posture need to be addressed.
Context: past attacks and threats against Trump
President Trump has been targeted in multiple attempts and plots in recent years. The most serious in 2024 occurred in July in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a rooftop gunman opened fire; a bystander was killed, the president suffered a wound to the ear, and agents shot the attacker dead. In September 2024, authorities said an armed man lay in wait near Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, with a rifle; he was spotted and arrested, later convicted of attempting to kill the president and sentenced to life. Also in September, a 21-year-old intruder was shot dead after entering Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort with a shotgun; the president was not on the property at that time.
Investigation ongoing
Federal and local authorities are continuing to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and review video and other records to determine how the suspect reached the secured area and what his motives may have been. Officials have emphasized the active investigation and said more information will be released as it becomes available.