Cole Allen Identified After Gunfire Incident at Washington Hilton During Correspondents’ Dinner

A 31-year-old man from California has been identified by US law enforcement sources as the suspect detained after gunfire erupted inside a Washington hotel hosting the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night.

The man, named as Cole Tomas Allen, was taken into custody by security personnel at the Washington Hilton, where the annual event was underway. According to information shared with CBS, Allen told authorities he had intended to target officials linked to the Trump administration.

Details of the incident remain closely held. Police confirmed late that there had been an exchange of gunfire between the suspect and security officers, though they declined to specify how many rounds were discharged. CBS, citing sources familiar with the investigation, reported that between five and eight shots may have been fired.

Washington’s interim police chief, Jeffery Carroll, said Allen was not struck during the confrontation but was transported to a hospital for evaluation. Authorities described him as heavily armed at the time, carrying a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives.

Carroll indicated that, based on early findings, investigators believe Allen acted alone. There was no immediate suggestion of a broader plot or accomplices.

Footage circulating online, including video shared by former President Donald Trump, appears to show a man rushing past security before officers pursue him. Still images released later show a shirtless individual restrained on the ground, surrounded by Secret Service personnel.

Investigators have also turned their attention to California, where FBI agents and local law enforcement were seen searching a property believed to be connected to Allen.

Employment records cited by CBS suggest Allen had worked for a tutoring firm in Torrance known as C2 Education, where he reportedly received a “Teacher of the Month” award in late 2024. It remains unclear whether he was still employed there at the time of the incident.

The Torrance Unified School District said in a statement that Allen had never worked within its schools. Separately, the California Institute of Technology confirmed he graduated in 2017, offering no further details.

Federal prosecutors have moved swiftly. Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney in Washington, said Allen is expected to face charges including the use of a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon. Formal proceedings are scheduled to begin.

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The episode briefly disrupted one of Washington’s most closely watched annual gatherings, though officials have not indicated any injuries beyond the suspect’s medical evaluation. For now, investigators appear focused on piecing together how a heavily armed guest managed to move inside a secured venue before being stopped.