Security Response Contained Active Shooter Threat at Correspondents Dinner
Shooter apprehended after shots fired at dinner; Trump evacuated, 2,600 attendees safely removed.
Event / Politics
Multiple security incidents and controversies involving the Trump administration, including assassination attempts, security vulnerabilities, political tensions with media figures, military policy disclosures, immigration enforcement changes, and judicial redistricting decisions.
2026-08-18 to 2026-11-15 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 26 Apr, 00:37 UTC
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Cole Allen traveled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago and then to Washington D.C., according to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Law enforcement officials believe Allen booked a room at the Washington Hilton in early April prior to the incident.
Cole Allen was charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon. U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro announced that additional charges could follow and that arraignment was scheduled for Monday in U.S. District Court.
Cole Allen was scheduled to appear for arraignment in U.S. District Court on Monday following the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Law enforcement officials indicated Allen was declining to answer questions but allegedly made non-specific references to targeting administration officials.
A gunman opened fire inside the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner on Saturday night, where thousands of journalists, President Donald Trump, and Cabinet members were gathered. Law enforcement tackled the suspect near the main magnetometer security area after he breached the security perimeter.
Cole Allen graduated from CalTech in 2017 with a degree in mechanical engineering and earned a master's degree from Cal State-Dominguez Hills in 2025. He worked as a tutor in Torrance, California, and was named Teacher of the Month by his employer C2 Education in 2024. He was not registered with any political party.
Cole Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, was identified as the suspect in the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Allen is a trained mechanical engineer and tutor who allegedly traveled across the country intending to cause maximum damage. He was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives.
A Secret Service member was shot during the incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. The bullet struck the agent's protective vest, and President Trump stated the agent was in good spirits after the incident.
Former President Barack Obama called for unity on Sunday following the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. He stated that 'it's incumbent upon all us to reject the idea that violence has any place in our democracy.' Obama also praised the U.S. Secret Service for their courage and sacrifice, and expressed gratitude that the agent who was shot would be okay.
A U.S. Secret Service agent was shot during the incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. According to reports, the agent was expected to be okay following the shooting.
A senior U.S. official confirmed that Cole Thomas Allen was part of a group called The Wide Awakes and had attended a 'No Kings' protest rally in California. Law enforcement was concerned about potential copycat attacks following the incident.
Cole Thomas Allen, who carried out the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, had no criminal record prior to the incident.
Police revealed that the suspect Cole Thomas Allen had a number of weapons on him during the incident, including a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives.
31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen from Torrance, California was charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and one count of assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon. His arraignment was scheduled for Monday, with additional charges expected.
Surveillance footage showed Cole Thomas Allen, armed with a gun, sprinting past security at the Washington Hilton hotel during the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Security personnel immediately reacted and apprehended him. Law enforcement confirmed the suspect was not struck by gunfire during the arrest but was taken to the hospital for evaluation.
A shooting occurred at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night at the Washington Hilton hotel. The incident involved gunfire and resulted in a Secret Service agent being shot. President Trump and other administration officials were present at the event.
President Donald Trump spoke on Saturday night following the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, calling for unity and resolution of differences. He noted that the event included Republicans, Democrats, independents, conservatives, liberals and progressives, and that there was 'a tremendous amount of love and coming together' in the room despite the incident.
President Trump appeared on '60 Minutes' on Sunday night, recounting the moments immediately following the gunshots at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. He stated that he wanted to see what was happening during the incident. Trump also commented that the shooter 'had a lot of hatred in his heart' and suggested religion was a factor in the attack.
Cole Thomas Allen sent a manifesto to family members approximately 10 minutes before the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. The document was handed over to the New London, Connecticut Police Department after the incident. The manifesto contained anti-Trump rhetoric and indicated targets included administration officials. Allen referred to himself as the 'Friendly Federal Assassin' in the document.
Law enforcement investigators uncovered that Allen's siblings were aware of his troubling behavior and were concerned about his 'increasingly agitated rhetoric' in his writings. Family members noted that Allen had access to firearms and regularly visited shooting ranges to train with guns. Both Allen's brother and sister were worried about him, and one sibling alerted police based on the disturbing writings.
Allen's brother contacted the New London Police Department in Connecticut prior to the shooting, reporting that Allen had sent family members an alleged manifesto outlining his intent to target administration officials.
Shooter apprehended after shots fired at dinner; Trump evacuated, 2,600 attendees safely removed.
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