Suspect Identified in White House Correspondents' Dinner Shooting

On Saturday, April 26, 2026, gunfire broke out at the White House correspondents’ dinner at the Washington Hilton. Surveillance video released by President Donald Trump shows a man sprinting past a Secret Service checkpoint near the magnetometer. Agents opened fire; an officer in a bullet-proof vest was hit, while the suspect was tackled and not injured by gunfire. Police say the suspect was armed with a shotgun, handgun and knives and appears to have been a hotel guest.

The Guardian

The man identified by media reports is Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old from Torrance, California, with no criminal record. He earned a mechanical-engineering degree from Caltech in 2017, served as a teaching assistant, and participated in campus clubs. After a year as a mechanical engineer, he founded Ice-Forged Games, releasing the non-violent title *Bohrdom* on Steam in 2018. He later taught part-time for C2 Education, earning teacher-of-the-month in 2024, and completed a master’s in computer science at California State University, Dominguez Hills, in 2024. His LinkedIn profile describes him as “Mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, independent game developer by experience, teacher by birth.”

The Guardian

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Allen faces two counts and will be arraigned Monday, with further charges possible. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche indicated the suspect may have targeted the Trump administration, likely including the president. Authorities have not disclosed a motive.

The Guardian

President Trump called the attacker a “lone wolf whack job” who “looked evil” and said he would spend “life in prison.” Interim police chief Jeffery Carroll said the suspect was believed to be a hotel guest and that a room was secured for evidence. Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed custody and said no accomplices were known. Federal officials have not publicly confirmed Allen’s identity, though the video has been widely circulated.

The Guardian

Investigators have not released a full weapons inventory, and a motive remains unidentified.

The Guardian

Allen’s arraignment is set for Monday; a search of his California home continues, and prosecutors may file additional charges.

The Guardian

• “It is clear, based upon what we know so far, this individual was intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could,” — Jeanine Pirro, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia

The Guardian

• “We do believe he was a guest here at the hotel.” — Jeffery Carroll, interim police chief, Washington Metropolitan Police Department

The Guardian

• “mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, independent game developer by experience, teacher by birth” — Cole Tomas Allen, LinkedIn profile

The Guardian

• “He was probably the most gentle person on the team, which makes it even more shocking that he did this.” — Former teammate

The Guardian