WASHINGTON — The suspect who fired a shotgun at a Secret Service agent outside the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Saturday night was likely targeting President Donald Trump and members of his administration, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Sunday.
The assailant, identified by law enforcement as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old California resident, was tackled and arrested after discharging the weapon at a security checkpoint in the Washington Hilton hotel. Trump and first lady Melania Trump were swiftly evacuated from the ballroom as chaos erupted among the 2,600 guests in black-tie attire.
Suspect Traveled Cross-Country, Officials Say
Speaking on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Blanche stated, “It does appear that he, he did, in fact, have set out to target folks that work in the administration, likely including the president.” Blanche added that the suspect likely traveled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago and then to Washington.
The suspect is expected to be charged in federal court on Monday with assault of a federal officer, discharging a firearm, and attempting to kill a federal officer. Blanche said he did not yet know if there was any connection to Iran.
Trump: Shooter ‘Stopped by Law Enforcement’
In an interview on Fox News’ “The Sunday Briefing,” Trump said the suspected shooter was stopped by law enforcement and “didn’t come close” to entering the ballroom. He earlier told reporters at a late-night White House briefing that the Secret Service officer was saved by his bulletproof vest and was in “good shape.”
Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi confirmed the officer had been released from a hospital.
Global Condemnation
World leaders condemned the attack and expressed relief that Trump and all present were safe. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called it an attack “on our free and open societies,” while other leaders stressed violence has no place in a democracy.
The British embassy, preparing for King Charles’ visit to Washington starting Monday, said discussions were underway on whether the incident might affect planning for the visit.
Suspect Thought to Be ‘Lone Wolf’
Washington interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll said the suspect was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives. Based on preliminary information, he was believed to have been a guest at the hotel.
Trump said officials believe the suspect is a “lone wolf.” Little was immediately known about Allen’s background, but social media postings suggested he was a teacher in Torrance, near Los Angeles.
How the Attack Unfolded
Video footage shows Trump and his wife sitting at a banquet table on stage when a commotion at the rear of the ballroom triggers gasps through the room. People screamed, “Get down, get down!” as guests in tuxedos and ball gowns took cover under tables.
Security personnel in combat fatigues stormed the stage, pointing rifles into the ballroom as Trump, Melania, and Vice President JD Vance were evacuated. Cabinet members were escorted out by their security details one by one. Some guests began chanting “USA, USA!”
Closed-circuit TV footage released by Trump on Truth Social showed the suspect running rapidly through a security checkpoint, momentarily catching security personnel off-guard before they drew their weapons. No shots were fired at the gunman, who got through two checkpoints before being brought down.
“You know, he charged from 50 yards away, so he was very far away from the room. He was moving. He was really moving,” Trump said after the gala dinner was cancelled.
Security Questions Emerge
The chaotic events raised fresh questions about the security of top US officials. A focus of the investigation is likely to be how the gunman was able to smuggle the shotgun into the hotel, which hosts the annual dinner, marquee fixture of Washington’s social calendar.
The site was also the scene of an attempt on the life of President Ronald Reagan, who was shot and wounded by a would-be assassin outside the hotel in 1981.
Trump stayed backstage for about an hour after being hustled from the stage. He later said he had not wanted to leave the event, a remark that echoed images of him defiantly pumping his fist after narrowly escaping an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2024.
In that attempt, Trump was wounded in his upper ear by a 20-year-old gunman who was shot dead by security personnel. Just over two months later, Secret Service agents spotted a man wielding a gun while hiding in bushes at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, while Trump was on the course. That suspect was sentenced to life in prison in February.
