A suspect is in custody after a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner Saturday night at the Washington Hilton Hotel, which caused law enforcement to evacuate President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
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The suspect charged a security checkpoint at the hotel where the dinner was held and exchanged gunfire with officers. He was armed with multiple weapons and was apprehended by Secret Service agents. Authorities said he had a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives.
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One officer who was wearing a bulletproof vest was shot by the suspect.
The shooting began near the indoor security screening area just after 8:30 p.m. as guests were being served salad.
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The suspect is Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, who was a guest at the hotel where the event was held. He was taken to Howard University Hospital for evaluation, though he was not shot by law enforcement.
Allen graduated from CalTech in 2017 with a degree in mechanical engineering, according to the university. He was named teacher of the month in December 2024 at C2 Education, which specializes in college test preparation, tutoring and academic advising.
Allen also earned a master’s degree in computer science at Cal State Dominguez Hills in 2025, according to a commencement program.
In October 2024, Allen donated $25 to ActBlue, a political action committee that raises funds for Democrats, according to the Federal Election Commission. The money was earmarked for Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said the suspect will be charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence, along with one count of assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon. He will be arraigned in court on Monday, she said.
The Washington Hilton, a mile from the White House, is where President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981. There were 2,500 attendees at the Correspondents Dinner.
