US EditionAccused gunman at correspondents’ dinner was believed to be targeting top officials, Blanche says
Todd Blanche said the suspect’s writings and questioning indicated a plan to target Trump administration officials, and the FBI is reviewing his electronics.
- On Saturday, April 25, 2026, a gunman attempted to breach the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton, forcing President Donald Trump's immediate evacuation. Secret Service agents tackled suspect Cole Tomas Allen near the ballroom as gunfire erupted.
- Federal authorities identified the 31-year-old suspect as Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, who allegedly traveled by train to Washington, D.C. Writings recovered by officials suggest Allen intended to target administration members, though he is not cooperating with investigators.
- Acting U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced Allen faces imminent federal charges including firearm offenses and assault on a federal officer. Armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knives, Allen shot one Secret Service officer, who survived due to protective gear.
- World leaders including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the violence and praised security's swift response. President Trump vowed the dinner will be rescheduled within 30 days, while officials affirmed layered security measures prevented the gunman from reaching the ballroom.
- Investigators are analyzing a manifesto and electronic devices to determine Allen's full motive and any broader threat. The incident at the Washington Hilton echoes the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan at the same venue, reigniting security protocol discussions.
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Cole Tom Allen, the alleged shooter at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, wrote about his plans to target the Trump administration. He is now facing charges that he stormed a security checkpoint armed with a rifle, pistol and knives and exchanged gunfire with law enforcement, NBC News reports.
The U.S. President's spokesperson called the assailant "crazy."
Independent developer of video games from experience, bomber by choice. Cole Tomas Allen, 31-year-old Californian, became world-famous as alleged aspiring killer of...
Suspect in WHCA dinner shooting said to target government officials
The suspect in a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner told law enforcement after his arrest that his target was officials from the Trump administration, CBS News reported on Saturday, citing sources.
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