Gunman Identified in White House Correspondents’ Dinner Shooting
WASHINGTON — The individual responsible for the shooting at Saturday night’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner has been named as Cole Allen, a 31-year-old from Torrance, California. President Trump described him as a likely “lone-wolf robber.”
Allen, who federal law enforcement officials identified as a teacher, was taken into custody after allegedly entering the Washington Hilton hotel and bursting into a ballroom where President Trump mingled with around 2,500 guests.
The incident took place near the main security checkpoint shortly after 8:30 p.m., as salads were being served. The Secret Service evacuated Trump and members of his Cabinet, who sheltered under tables during the chaos.
Dramatic footage shared by President Trump on social media shows Allen firing his weapon and charging towards the banquet hall. A police officer was shot, though fortunately the bullet struck his bulletproof vest.
“When he arrived at the checkpoint, he carried a shotgun, a handgun, and several knives,” Washington, D.C. Police Chief Jeffrey Carroll stated.
“He appears to be acting alone,” Carroll noted, adding, “There doesn’t seem to be a broader threat to the public.”
Following the shooting, President Trump held a press conference at the White House, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, who nearly broke down in tears as her husband referenced past assassination attempts against him.
“I witnessed a tremendous show of love and unity,” Trump remarked, saying he was deeply touched by the crowd’s reactions.
The president mentioned that he had heard gunfire but at first didn’t comprehend the severity of the situation.
“I thought it was a tray that had fallen,” he explained. “I heard the noise, and, I mean, it could have been a bullet or something else. I was hoping for something mundane.”
President Trump expressed intentions to refine his upcoming remarks for another dinner with new correspondents, indicating he was preparing to deliver a candid message.
In a surprising turn, the president chose not to address queries regarding how the guns managed to get into the hotel.
While attendees had to cross an outdoor security perimeter, showing either tickets or invitations for the pre-event festivities, there were no weapon checks apart from the screening just before entry to the ballroom.
Witnesses claimed that the suspect seemed to have emerged from a “makeshift room” close to where the bar cart was located, noting that there appeared to be “no security present” at that moment.
“He was in that room. I think he pulled it out of a bag or something,” recounted Helen Mabus, a witness and event volunteer, adding that the weapon appeared to be “long” and didn’t resemble a standard gun.
Various eyewitnesses reported hearing seven to eight shots, leading to widespread panic inside the venue. Attendees ducked for cover under tables, with one journalist recalling that guests “crawled under our table for what felt like ages.”
President Trump commended law enforcement for their swift response.
“The D.C. Secret Service and law enforcement did a tremendous job. They responded quickly and acted courageously,” he wrote on Truth Social, sharing a photo of the suspect.
“The shooter has been apprehended, and, as I said, ‘let the show go on.’ He will face the full extent of the law,” he added.
Trump also mentioned that law enforcement plans to conduct a search of the suspect’s residence in Torrance soon.
Additionally, it was reported that a Secret Service agent was shot at close range but is expected to recover. The president announced that the annual event has been postponed, with plans to reschedule within the next 30 days.
