Cole Tomas Allen Opens Fire Outside White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Secret Service Officer Struck

A suspected gunman, Cole Tomas Allen, opened fire outside the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., on Saturday night, prompting a rapid security response and leaving the president and first lady safe.

“The alleged targets information was not specific, per law enforcement”

6abc Philadelphia

CBS News reported that Allen “clearly stated he wanted to target officials in the Trump administration,” citing a senior U.S. official, and said the president and first lady Melania Trump were from the dinner and “none of the attendees were seriously injured.”

6abc Philadelphia

NBC News described Allen as a “California teacher and engineer” who was subdued near the packed ballroom, where President Donald Trump and other White House officials gathered with journalists.

Multiple outlets said a Secret Service officer was struck by at least one round and that the agent was protected by a bulletproof vest, with CBS News adding the agent is expected to be OK.

The incident unfolded near a security checkpoint at the event, and ABC7 Chicago said it took place near the main magnetometer screening area at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

NBC News said Allen was armed with a shotgun, handgun and knives when he rushed the checkpoint and ran toward the ballroom, and that he exchanged gunfire with law enforcement before being tackled.

CBS News said at least five to eight gunshots were fired, while CNN said authorities believe the suspect fired “one or two times.”

Trump posted a photo to social media showing the shirtless suspect on the floor of the hotel with his arms tied behind his back after being detained, according to CBS News, and The Hollywood Reporter said Trump shared a photo and video of Allen charging through a security checkpoint.

Investigators and officials described Cole Tomas Allen as a 31-year-old educator and engineer from Torrance, California, who was apprehended at the scene after charging a security checkpoint.

CBS News said Allen “was apprehended at the scene,” identified him as “Allen, 31, was an educator from Torrance, California,” and reported he had an engineering degree from a “prestigious university.”

ABC News

NBC News similarly said Allen, 31, lives in the Los Angeles suburb of Torrance, and described him as a teacher and engineer accused of opening fire outside the dinner.

The Washington Post said Allen identified himself in a missive sent to family members moments before the attack as a “friendly federal assassin” and railed against Trump administration policies, and it also said he booked a hotel room at the Washington Hilton weeks in advance.

CBS News added that Allen traveled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago and then from Chicago to D.C., and that he checked into the hotel on Friday, the day before the event.

CNN reported that the White House said the suspect “clearly stated” he wanted to target administration officials, and described the suspect as charging through a security checkpoint and opening fire at a press gala in Washington, DC.

6abc Philadelphia said law enforcement authorities identified the suspect as Cole Allen of Torrance, California, and reported that a Secret Service agent wearing an armored vest was struck in the chest.

CBS News said the suspect was not struck by gunfire and was taken to a hospital for evaluation, and NBC News said he was not shot but was taken to a local hospital.

NBC News also reported that Allen’s writings were sent to family members about 10 minutes before the Saturday attack, and that a brother contacted the New London Police Department in Connecticut at around 10:49 p.m. Saturday.

CBS News said investigators retrieved the suspect’s cellphone and additional electronics and were obtaining search warrants, and that investigators were reviewing writings found in the hotel to understand motive.

Multiple outlets described Allen’s pre-attack writings as central to investigators’ understanding of motive, and they also reported how officials characterized the suspect’s intent.

“The suspect in the shooting incident is in custody, the Secret Service said”

ABC7 Chicago

NBC News said Allen sent family members a note about 10 minutes before the Saturday attack, and that the note described his “expected rules of engagement,” writing: “Administration officials (not including Mr. Patel): they are targets, prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest.”

NBC News also quoted Allen writing, “I don’t expect forgiveness,” and “Again, my sincere apologies,” in a note apologizing to his parents, colleagues, students, bystanders and others for what he was about to do.

CNN said the White House told investigators were combing through a message in which the suspect “clearly stated” he wanted to target administration officials, and it also reported that Trump reacted to excerpts read on “60 Minutes.”

In that interview, CNN quoted Trump saying, “You shouldn’t be reading that on ‘60 Minutes,’ you’re a disgrace,” and it also quoted Trump saying, “I understand life. We live in a crazy world,” as loud bangs rang out Saturday night.

CBS News said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told CBS News’ “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” that investigators believe members of the Trump administration were targeted, and it reported that the FBI is conducting a criminal investigation while the Secret Service investigates the suspect’s background.

CBS News said Allen in federal court with three counts, including attempting to assassinate the president, and it reported that investigators have retrieved the suspect’s cellphone and additional electronics.

The Hill said the Justice Department charged Cole Allen on Monday afternoon with the attempted assassination of President Trump, along with other counts, in his first court appearance since the Saturday shooting.

ABC7 Chicago said U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro told reporters at a press briefing Saturday night that it was “clear, based upon what we know so far, that this individual was intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could.”

6abc Philadelphia reported that Trump said a Secret Service agent was struck in the chest and that the agent suffered non life-threatening injuries, and it also said no one else was injured in the incident.

Witnesses and local reporters described the immediate chaos inside the Washington Hilton ballroom as gunfire erupted outside and attendees were rushed to safety.

WHSV, a local station in Harrisonburg, Va., quoted Kyle Rogers, now news director at Local News Live in Washington D.C., describing “an audible series of pops” followed by what he called ‘mayhem.’

Al Jazeera

Rogers said, “I mean, none of us knew what was going on,” and that he heard “get down, get down,” prompting him to “Dove under our table, stayed there for several minutes.”

Rogers told WHSV he did not see Cole Tomas Allen himself, but said the 31-year-old from Torrance, California was apprehended after charging a security checkpoint armed with knives and two guns and “never made his way into the ballroom.”

Rogers also described a communications blackout, saying the “ball”room is “notorious for bad cell service,” and that he couldn’t reach his mother until “a few hours after the shooting happened.”

ABC7 Chicago quoted Rep. Nanette Barragan, D-Calif., saying, “Heard the shots and had to get under our table,” and it also quoted Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., describing security personnel yelling “Watch out for crossfire!” as he hid behind a pillar.

ABC7 Chicago also quoted Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., thanking Steve Scalise for grabbing him into a secure room.

The Hollywood Reporter said Trump shared a video of Allen charging through a security checkpoint and quoted Trump saying, “They drew those guns so fast, they looked like Matt Dillon,” as Secret Service agents apprehended the suspect.

CNN described the atmosphere shifting during a segment involving entertainer Oz Pearlman attempting to guess the name of White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt’s unborn child, and it said Trump and the first lady began to recognize the situation was more serious as the disturbance escalated.

After the shooting, officials and political figures described immediate next steps and broader implications for security at major presidential events.

CBS News said the president was standing by the Secret Service in the wake of Saturday's attack, praising the agents for their response while ordering a review of security procedures, and it reported that White House chief of staff Susie Wiles will hold a meeting this week with senior administration officials, the Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security to assess protocols for major presidential events.

Al Jazeera

ABC7 Chicago said Trump vowed the annual dinner would be rescheduled within the next 30 days, and The Hollywood Reporter said the dinner was canceled and that WHCA and Trump vowing to reschedule the event within 30 days, with Trump noting he “fought like hell to stay, but it was protocol.”

CNN said Trump called for the dinner to be rescheduled within 30 days and include more security, quoting him: “I hope we’re going to do it again,” and “We should do it within 30 days, and they’ll have even more security, and they’ll have bigger perimeter security.”

The Hill reported that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt opened her press briefing by calling for Congress to fund the Department of Homeland Security, which has been shut down for two and a half months, and it also said Senate Republicans were losing confidence in Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s leadership.

The Hill also tied the aftermath to ongoing legal and political disputes, saying a preservation group is not backing down from its lawsuit over President Trump’s White House ballroom project and quoting Gregory B. Craig’s letter to the DOJ that the National Trust “respectfully declines the invitation to dismiss.”

The Hill further reported that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich attacked CBS News’s Norah O’Donnell for reading a reported manifesto of the suspected gunman, saying “Norah O’Donnell may have reached the low point in disgusting and inhumane demagoguery disguised as journalism.”

At the same time, Trump’s comments about the press and the event’s handling were part of the public record, with CNN quoting him telling O’Donnell, “You shouldn’t be reading that on ‘60 Minutes,’ you’re a disgrace,” and with CBS News reporting that Trump ordered a review of security procedures.