The White House Correspondents' Association dinner descended into chaos on Saturday evening when a lone gunman opened fire at the annual event in Washington, D.C. The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from Torrance, California, was quickly subdued by law enforcement and taken into custody. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that investigators believe Allen was targeting members of the Trump administration.
Incident Details
President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and other administration officials were swiftly evacuated from the ballroom at the Washington Hilton as guests scrambled for cover. The suspect rushed security guards and opened fire, striking a Secret Service agent. No dinner guests were injured, and the event was subsequently canceled. In a Truth Social post, Trump confirmed the assailant's apprehension and shared a photo of the suspect on the ground. Police recovered a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives from Allen.
Suspect Background
Allen, a 2017 graduate of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), was working as a teacher and developing computer games at the time of his arrest. In 2019, he registered the domain name “Bohrdom” for a game he created and released on Steam, described as a “skill-based, non-violent asymmetrical fighting game.” In 2025, he earned a master's degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills. During his time at Caltech, Allen was involved in the Christian fellowship and the Nerf club. A 2017 Facebook post from the school featured him holding a childhood photo with a stuffed rabbit.
In December 2024, Allen was named “Teacher of the Month” by the tutoring service C2 Education. On his LinkedIn profile, he described himself as a “mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, independent game developer by experience, teacher by birth,” listing “Science and Technology” as his causes. He previously worked as a mechanical engineer for UK Controls in South Pasadena and as a teaching assistant at Caltech. In 2016, he competed in a robotics competition at the school.
Manifesto and Motive
Officials reported that Allen sent an anti-Trump and anti-Christian manifesto to his family before the shooting. The manifesto, portions of which were published by the New York Post, included the suspect referring to himself as the “Friendly Federal Assassin” and “Cole coldForce.” He wrote, “Turning the other cheek when *someone else* is oppressed is not Christian behavior; it is complicity in the oppressor’s crimes.” Authorities were alerted to the manifesto by Allen's brother, who lives in New London, Connecticut.
Political Donations
According to the Los Angeles Times, Allen donated $25 to the Democratic PAC ActBlue in October 2024, a month before Donald Trump's defeat of Kamala Harris. Federal Election Commission filings indicate this was his only political donation in the past decade. Allen was a registered voter but not affiliated with any political party.
Neighborhood and Character
Neighbors described Allen and his family as peaceful and quiet. One neighbor told the Los Angeles Times, “We see them every day and we just say hi and they’re very nice. They’re peaceful people, they don’t make any noise and when they see you they say hi.” Another neighbor noted that the community is home to “lots of retired LAPD” and was considered “super-super safe.” A neighbor told the New York Post that he felt Allen was “on the spectrum.”
Dylan Wakayama, president of the Asian American Civic Trust, described Allen as “very intelligent, proficient in biology, mathematics and science. They thought he was on the nicer, quiet side.” Allen had tutored high school students through the organization. Wakayama added, “They were completely shocked when I told them that this all went down. I think all of us in Torrance would be shocked if this is the man who attempted to kill the president of the United States.”
Investigation and Charges
DC Metro Police Chief Jeffery W. Carroll stated that investigators believe Allen was staying at the Washington Hilton hotel. A room has been secured, and authorities are determining its contents. ABC News reported, citing sources, that Allen traveled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago and then to Washington, D.C. Trump posted surveillance footage of the suspect running past the hotel's security checkpoint, citing “transparency” and highlighting the swift reaction of agents.
In his manifesto, Allen mocked the hotel's security, focusing on the perimeter. Police confirmed that Allen has no criminal record and was not on law enforcement's radar in Washington, D.C. A Secret Service agent was shot during the incident, and both Allen and the agent were taken to a local hospital. The agent is reported to be in good spirits.
U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., Jeanine Pirro, announced that Allen faces two charges: use of a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday at 1 p.m. local time in federal court. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison. The motive for the attack remains under investigation.
