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Suspect identified following hotel shooting incident
Law enforcement officials have named Cole Tomas Allen, 31, as the man arrested after gunshots were fired inside the Washington Hilton hotel during the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night. Allen, a resident of Torrance, California, was taken into custody by security agents at the scene.
Suspect allegedly targeted Trump administration officials
According to two sources cited by CBS, Allen told investigators he intended to shoot officials in the Trump administration. Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed on NBC's Meet the Press that preliminary findings suggested the suspect was targeting administration figures, including a "likely" focus on President Donald Trump.
Blanche noted that Allen had assembled the weapon inside the hotel but "didn't get very far," as he "barely broke the perimeter." Investigators believe Allen traveled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago before continuing to Washington, DC.
Incident details and weapons recovered
CBS reported that between five and eight gunshots were fired during the incident. CCTV footage shared by Trump shows an individual running past security officers, who then pursued him. At a press conference, Washington interim police chief Jeffery Carroll stated that security officials and the suspect exchanged gunfire, though the exact number of shots was not disclosed.
Carroll confirmed that Allen, who was a guest at the hotel, was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives. The suspect was not struck by gunfire but was taken to a hospital for evaluation. Authorities described him as a "lone actor."
Trump later posted a photograph on social media showing a shirtless man, identified as Allen, restrained on the floor with his hands cuffed behind his back, surrounded by Secret Service agents.
Investigation expands to suspect's background
FBI agents and police were seen searching a California address believed to be linked to Allen. BBC Verify examined the suspect's online presence, revealing that Los Angeles County voter registration records list him as having no party preference.
Federal Election Commission records show that in October 2024, Allen donated $25 (£18) to ActBlue, a fundraising platform, with the contribution earmarked for Kamala Harris' presidential campaign.
On LinkedIn, Allen describes himself as a mechanical engineer, game developer, and teacher. He studied mechanical engineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where he participated in the university's Christian fellowship. In 2025, he graduated with a master's degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and shared a photo of himself in graduation robes on the platform. Allen also developed and released a game called Bohrdom on the gaming platform Steam.
Photos on Allen's Facebook profile, matched by BBC Verify to images from his arrest, show him in family settings during Christmas and graduation events. In December 2024, he was named "Teacher of the Month" by C2 Education, a tutoring and test preparation organization, where he had worked part-time since 2020.
Charges and next steps
US Attorney for Washington Jeanine Pirro announced that Allen faces two federal charges: using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon. He is scheduled to appear in federal court on Monday for formal charges.
