Suspect Identified
The man apprehended after shots were fired inside the Washington Hilton hotel during the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night has been identified by law enforcement officials as Cole Tomas Allen.
Allen, 31, is from Torrance, located in the Los Angeles area of California.
Following his detention by security personnel inside the hotel, Allen reportedly told law enforcement that he intended to shoot officials from the Trump administration, according to two sources cited by CBS, the BBC's US news partner.
Investigation and Motive
During an interview on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday, acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the motive behind the suspected shooting remains under investigation. However, he noted that "preliminary" findings indicate the suspect was targeting administration officials, "likely" including President Donald Trump.
"He barely broke the perimeter," Blanche said, explaining that investigators are examining reports that the alleged gunman assembled the weapon inside the hotel. He added that the suspect likely traveled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago, and then to Washington DC.
Incident Details
CBS, citing sources, reported that between five and eight gunshots were fired during the incident. CCTV footage shared by President Trump shows an individual rushing past security officers, who then pursue him.
Earlier, police stated at a news conference that security officials and the suspect exchanged gunfire, though they did not specify the number of shots fired.
Washington interim police chief Jeffery Carroll confirmed that the suspect was not hit by gunfire but was transported to a hospital for evaluation.
Carroll also stated that the suspect was a guest at the Washington Hilton hotel during the correspondents' dinner and was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives.
"At this point, it does appear he is a lone actor, a lone gunman," the police chief said.
President Trump later posted a close-up photo showing a shirtless man on the floor with his hands cuffed behind his back, surrounded by Secret Service agents.
Searches and Background
Subsequent images surfaced showing FBI agents and police conducting a search at a California address believed to be connected to the suspect.
BBC Verify has investigated the suspect's online presence.
Los Angeles County voter registration records indicate that Allen had registered with no party preference.
According to a Federal Election Commission record reviewed by BBC Verify, Allen donated $25 (£18) in October 2024 to the fundraising platform ActBlue, with the contribution designated for Kamala Harris' presidential campaign.
Allen's LinkedIn profile describes him as a mechanical engineer, game developer, and teacher.
He studied mechanical engineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), a highly selective university, where he participated in its Christian fellowship.
He earned a master's degree in computer science in 2025 from California State University, Dominguez Hills, marking the achievement by sharing a photo of himself in graduation robes on LinkedIn. He also developed and released a game titled "Bohrdom" on the gaming platform Steam.
On Facebook, photos matching those of Allen's arrest at the Washington Hilton show him smiling in family settings during Christmas and graduation events.
In December 2024, Allen was recognized as teacher of the month by C2 Education, an organization providing tutoring and college test preparation, as noted in their Facebook post.
His LinkedIn profile indicates he has been a part-time teacher there since 2020.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
Jeanine Pirro, US attorney for Washington, announced that Allen faces two charges: using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.
She added that he would be formally charged on Monday in federal court.
Location Context
The suspect's travel route and locations involved in the case have been mapped for reference.
