A man arrested after opening fire at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner Saturday night was likely trying to kill members of the Trump administration, according to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
The suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, traveled by train from the West Coast to Washington, where he checked into the Washington Hilton as a guest before the event. Blanche revealed on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday that investigators believe Allen was targeting officials in the new administration.
Trump was on stage preparing to speak when gunshots erupted outside the ballroom. Secret Service agents rushed the president off the platform, and he dropped to the floor as agents shielded him and evacuated him from the room. First Lady Melania Trump was nearby speaking with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt when muffled gunshots rang out. Vice President JD Vance was evacuated in the opposite direction moments later.
A federal agent was shot during the incident but was wearing a bulletproof vest. The agent was hospitalized and released Sunday. Allen, who was subdued at the scene, faces federal charges including assault on a federal officer, discharging a firearm, and attempting to kill a federal officer.
Surveillance footage captured Allen rushing across the space outside the ballroom before he was tackled by law enforcement. Blanche said Sunday morning that the suspect was not cooperating with authorities. Allen is scheduled to appear in federal court in Washington on Monday.
The annual dinner, held at the Washington Hilton ballroom, descended into panic as guests and journalists ducked under tables. Reporters and law enforcement officers with rifles blocked sightlines to the presidential table where Trump was seated next to Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Correspondents' Association.
CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, who was attending the dinner, witnessed the shooting. "I did see the gunman on the ground after he started shooting," Blitzer said. "Police officers threw him to the ground."
Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin of Maryland was also present at the dinner. He did not see a shooter but said a Secret Service agent threw him to the ground during the chaos. "People were terrified; people seem to be relieved now," he said.
The event was immediately suspended. The entire room emptied as guests were told the dinner would not resume and the presidential seal was removed from the podium. Helicopters circled overhead as law enforcement secured the area.
Trump left the hotel and held a press conference at the White House still wearing his tuxedo. He described being president as a "dangerous profession."
The White House dinner carries special significance this year. Trump had refused to attend last year's event and boycotted the annual dinner during his first term. The event was already tense given the presence of Trump and cabinet members including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
A records search showed Allen has no prior criminal charges or civil court history in Los Angeles County.
Blanche said investigators found no evidence connecting Allen to the Israel-Iran conflict or any broader geopolitical motive for the attack. The focus remains on determining what specifically drove Allen to target the dinner and the Trump administration officials present.
Author James Rodriguez: "A shooting at a presidential event with cabinet members present marks a serious security failure that will demand hard answers about how the gunman penetrated layers of protection."
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