Cole Tomas Allen identified as lone actor targeting Trump administration at White House Correspondents' Dinner
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche confirms preliminary findings indicate the 31-year-old California resident intended to assassinate senior officials, including the President
Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old mechanical engineer from Torrance, California, has been identified as the suspected gunman arrested during the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton hotel. Authorities describe the incident as the work of a lone actor who exchanged fire with security personnel before being detained. Allen is currently facing federal charges for using a firearm during a crime of violence and assaulting a federal officer.
Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that preliminary findings suggest the suspect intended to target officials within the Trump administration, with President Donald Trump likely among those aimed at. Blanche noted that investigators are examining reports that Allen assembled his weapons inside the hotel but failed to breach the perimeter significantly. The Acting Attorney General emphasised that the suspect "barely broke the perimeter" before security intervened.
Allen was taken to a hospital for evaluation following the exchange of gunfire and was not struck by any shots. He was reportedly armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives. Washington interim police chief Jeffery Carroll confirmed that the suspect was a guest at the hotel where the event was taking place and described the individual as a lone gunman who did not get very far in executing his plan.
A written document, described as a manifesto, was reportedly sent to Allen's family members prior to the attack. The document outlines an intent to target administration officials from highest-ranking to lowest. While guests and hotel staff were not the primary intended targets, the document suggests they would be attacked if necessary to reach the officials. US media reports cite a history of anti-Trump social media posts from Allen, though the BBC has not independently verified the alleged writings.
Allen's background includes work as a part-time teacher since 2020 and a master's degree in computer science obtained in 2025 from California State University, Dominguez Hills. His LinkedIn profile indicates he participated in a Christian fellowship at the California Institute of Technology. Despite this, a Federal Election Commission record shows that in October 2024, Allen donated $25 to Kamala Harris' presidential campaign.
Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for Washington, confirmed that Allen will be formally charged on Monday in federal court. The charges include using a firearm during a crime of violence and assaulting a federal officer using a dangerous weapon. This incident marks the third time President Trump has publicly stated he has faced an assassination threat, following previous attempts in Butler, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
