A 31-year-old California man has been arrested after shots were fired inside the Washington Hilton hotel on Saturday night, where the high-profile White House Correspondents’ Dinner was taking place.
Law enforcement officials have identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, a resident of Torrance in the Los Angeles area. Authorities say Allen was swiftly detained by security agents inside the venue before he could carry out what investigators believe may have been a politically motivated attack.
According to two sources who spoke to CBS News, Allen allegedly told officers after his arrest that he intended to shoot officials connected to the Trump administration. In an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed that the suspect’s motive remains under investigation but said preliminary findings suggest he was targeting administration figures, “likely” including President Donald Trump.
Blanche emphasized that the suspect was stopped early. “He didn’t get very far — he barely broke the perimeter,” he said, highlighting the rapid response by security personnel at the event.
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Investigators are also examining reports that Allen may have assembled the weapon inside the hotel, raising fresh concerns about security vulnerabilities at one of Washington’s most prominent annual gatherings.
Authorities believe Allen traveled across the country by train, journeying from Los Angeles to Chicago before continuing on to Washington, DC. Following his arrest, FBI agents and local police were seen searching a property in California believed to be linked to him.
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Further details about Allen’s background have begun to emerge. He describes himself on LinkedIn as a mechanical engineer, game developer, and teacher. He studied mechanical engineering at the prestigious California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where he was involved in a Christian fellowship group. More recently, he completed a master’s degree in computer science in 2025 at California State University, Dominguez Hills.
Allen also developed and released a video game titled “Bohrdom” on the Steam platform. Social media images verified by BBC sources show him in everyday settings, including family gatherings and graduation events.
Public records indicate that Allen had no registered party affiliation, though Federal Election Commission data shows he made a $25 donation in October 2024 via ActBlue, earmarked for Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.
As the investigation continues, officials are working to piece together Allen’s movements, intentions, and any possible connections. The incident has once again raised concerns about security at major political events, even those with significant protective measures in place.
No further injuries have been reported, and authorities say the situation was contained quickly.
