Story perspectives

Shotgun-Wielding Gunman Stopped at Washington Hilton; Trump Calls Building Insecure

4/27/2026

Summary

Story summary

A 31-year-old hotel guest broke through the outer security checkpoint but was stopped before the ballroom.
Authorities identified the shooter as Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, who carried a shotgun, a handgun and knives.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran said multi-layered protection worked after agents apprehended the suspect.
President Donald Trump called the Washington Hilton “not a particularly secure building” and urged completing the White House ballroom for events.

History

Historical Context

After John F. Kennedy’s 1963 assassination, the Washington Hilton added the secured “President’s Walk.” When John Hinckley Jr. fired six .22-caliber rounds at President Ronald Reagan on March 30 1981—penetrating two of three security layers—agents’ quick actions and the hotel’s over-100 prior inspections saved lives. The incident spurred tighter protection protocols and contributed to the 1993 Brady Act gun-control law.

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Story summary

A 31-year-old hotel guest broke through the outer security checkpoint but was stopped before the ballroom.
Authorities identified the shooter as Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, who carried a shotgun, a handgun and knives.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran said multi-layered protection worked after agents apprehended the suspect.
President Donald Trump called the Washington Hilton “not a particularly secure building” and urged completing the White House ballroom for events.

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