Cole Tomas Allen Opens Fire at Washington Hilton White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Secret Service Agents Respond

A gunman opened fire near a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, prompting President Donald Trump and other senior administration officials to be rushed to safety as chaos erupted in the ballroom.

NBC News reported that Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, was subdued near the packed ballroom, and that he was armed with a shotgun, handgun and knives when he rushed a security checkpoint and ran toward the ballroom.

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NBC News also said Allen exchanged gunfire with law enforcement and was tackled to the ground, while CNN reported that Secret Service agents shot at the suspect but did not hit him before he was taken into custody near a staircase leading to the ballroom.

The BBC described the incident as gunfire sparking chaos at the hotel hosting the dinner, and said one US security agent was injured and received treatment in hospital.

The Arab Weekly similarly said Trump and first lady Melania Trump were rushed out of the dinner by Secret Service agents after a man fired a shotgun at a Secret Service agent at a checkpoint in the Washington Hilton hotel.

Multiple outlets tied the attack to the same venue and event, with USA Today placing the gunfire at the Washington Hilton ballroom and describing Trump being evacuated from the dais after loud bangs rippled through the jam-packed room.

In the immediate aftermath, Trump told reporters he had first thought the loud bangs were caused by a waiter dropping a serving tray, saying, “It was either a tray or a bullet,” and “I was hoping it was a tray. But it wasn’t.”

Accounts of the sequence of events converge on the moment gunfire erupted near the ballroom entrance and security screening areas, with attendees ducking under tables and Secret Service agents rushing the president and other officials out.

USA Today said Trump was seated on the dais when “a series of loud bangs” rippled through the Washington Hilton ballroom, and described guests in tuxedos and evening gowns ducking for cover under tables as Secret Service agents evacuated Trump and first lady Melania Trump from the room.

ABC News

The Washington Post reported that the loud popping sounds were heard from the lobby just after 8:30 p.m. in the basement of the Washington Hilton, and that “Get down, get down!” was shouted as hundreds of attendees dove to the floor.

The Washington Post also said Secret Service officers first rushed Vice President JD Vance off the stage, then Trump a few seconds later, and that law enforcement officials barked out instructions — “Clear a path! Clear a path!” — as they escorted Cabinet members and other senior Trump officials out of the ballroom.

The Arab Weekly said Trump told reporters the officer was saved by his bulletproof vest and was in “good shape,” while NBC News said Allen was armed with multiple weapons and rushed a security checkpoint before being subdued.

The Washington Post described conflicting guidance inside the hotel, with “This is a crime scene,” said by a Secret Service officer telling attendees to keep walking out of the hotel and go a block across the street.

CNN added that authorities believe the suspect fired one or two times, and that the suspect was taken into custody near a staircase leading to the ballroom.

Investigators and White House officials focused on the suspect’s stated intent to target Trump administration officials, using writings sent to family members shortly before the attack.

NBC News reported that Allen believed it was his duty to target Trump administration officials, citing a note he sent family members about 10 minutes before the Saturday attack, and said acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told “Meet the Press” that authorities believe “the suspect traveled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago, and then Chicago to Washington, D.C.”

NBC News quoted Allen’s writings, including “Administration officials (not including Mr. Patel): they are targets, prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest.”

CNN reported that the White House said the suspect “clearly stated” he wanted to target administration officials, and said investigators were combing through a message sent by the man accused of charging through a security checkpoint and opening fire at a press gala in Washington, DC.

The Guardian described investigators looking into anti-Trump sentiment as a motive and quoted acting US attorney general Todd Blanche saying, “We do believe, based upon just a very preliminary start to understanding what happened, that he was targeting members of the administration.”

The Guardian also said the suspect sent writings listing his grievances against the administration to his family members about 10 minutes before shots were fired, according to White House officials who spoke to the Associated Press.

In the manifesto described by The Guardian, the list of targets ranked Trump administration officials at the top, and it said the shooter targeted administration officials with the exception of the FBI director, Kash Patel.

Trump’s public remarks after the shooting emphasized both law enforcement’s speed and his own interpretation of the event, while also criticizing aspects of the press and discussing how the dinner would be handled going forward.

CNN reported that in an interview with CBS on “60 Minutes,” Trump commended law enforcement’s quick reactions and said, “When you look at it on tape, it’s almost like a blur,” adding, “But it was amazing because as soon as they (law enforcement) saw that, you could see them draw their guns. They were so professional, aimed their guns, and then they took him down immediately.”

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CNN also said Trump took jabs at the press, including telling Norah O’Donnell “should be ashamed” and saying, “You shouldn’t be reading that on ‘60 Minutes,’ you’re a disgrace,” after she read an excerpt of the suspect’s reported writings.

USA Today reported that Trump told reporters at a news conference that he had first thought the loud bangs were caused by a waiter dropping a serving tray, and later said he had recommended the dinner be rescheduled within 30 days with more security.

The Washington Post reported that Trump departed the hotel around 9:40 p.m. and an hour later addressed the nation from the White House, saying, “That was very unexpected,” and thanking law enforcement for their response.

The Washington Post also quoted Trump criticizing the hotel’s security protocols and saying, “It’s not a particularly secure building,” while calling the shooting an example of why his White House ballroom is needed.

The Arab Weekly said Trump believed he was the target, and that officials believed the suspect was a “lone wolf,” with Trump describing the suspect’s approach as “He was moving. He was really moving,” and NBC News reported Trump called the suspected shooter a “whack job” and a “lone wolf.”

The reporting indicates the suspect is expected to face federal court proceedings soon, while authorities continue to piece together motive and travel details tied to the attack.

NBC News said Allen is expected to be charged in federal court on Monday, and it described that he was taken to a local hospital but was not shot.

BBC

CNN said the suspect has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old teacher from California, and that he’s expected to appear in court Monday, according to the US attorney for DC.

The Guardian said the suspect is set to be arraigned in federal court on Monday, and that he faces charges of assault of a federal officer, discharging a firearm and attempting to kill a federal officer.

USA Today reported that Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, told reporters the suspect in custody is being charged with two counts, including using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon, and that he will be arraigned on April 27.

The Guardian also said investigators were assessing a manifesto reportedly written by the suspect and published in full by the New York Post, and that an official familiar with the matter told the Guardian that the manifesto published by the Post was authentic.

The Arab Weekly said a focus of the investigation is likely to be how the gunman was able to smuggle the shotgun into the hotel, and it described the suspect as having got through two checkpoints before being brought down.