US authorities have identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, the detainee for the shooting registered during the White House Correspondents' Dinner, an incident that forced the evacuation of President Donald Trump, who was unharmed.
The arrested individual was subdued by agents of the Secret Service at the Washington Hilton hotel, the scene of the event, after bursting in armed into the security zone near the main hall. Images of his detention, immobilized on the ground by the agents, were later disseminated by Trump himself on social media.
White House Correspondence Shooter Identified as Cole Thomas Allen.
— Prashant Umrao (@ippatel) April 26, 2026
This is how secret service controlled the shooter. pic.twitter.com/XtWMHxAPGj
California Residency and Technical Profile
According to the first data released by the District of Columbia Police, Allen resides in Torrance, a coastal town in the state of California located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
Various public profiles on social networks present him as a person linked to the technological and educational field. He appears as a graduate of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and as a part-time worker in private teaching tasks, in addition to being an independent video game developer.
Alright. I'll be THAT guy.
— Patrick L Riley (@Acquired_Savant) April 26, 2026
In the room before the panic we clearly hear 5 shots. The video Trump posted shows him run through, agents drew guns.
Cole Tomas Allen had a makeshift shotgun, not an automatic rifle. The shots were the agents.
Agents shoot center mass. Something… pic.twitter.com/ELQBVu9HFL
A professional profile attributed to the suspect indicates that he obtained a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 2017 and a master's degree in computer science in 2025.
He was staying at the same hotel
The chief of the local Police has explained that the investigators believe that Allen was staying at the Washington Hilton itself, where the annual dinner that brings together journalists, political representatives, and high-ranking officials of the US Administration was being held.
For the moment, the authorities have not confirmed the motive for the attack nor if there was a direct political motivation.
Armed with a shotgun
The Secret Service has reported that the detainee was carrying a shotgun and opened fire on an agent deployed at the access control. The injured official did not suffer serious injuries thanks to the bulletproof vest.
Inside the compound were, in addition to Trump, the first lady Melania Trump, the vice president JD Vance and several cabinet members.
Investigation open
The investigation continues to clarify how he accessed the premises, how long he had been staying at the hotel, and if he acted alone. Federal authorities maintain the area cordoned off while they analyze the seized material and reconstruct the attacker's previous movements.