Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said investigators believe President Donald Trump and other administration officials were the probable targets when a man fired at a Secret Service agent at a security checkpoint outside the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
The incident unfolded late on April 26 at a security screening area for the hotel, which was hosting the annual black-tie event attended by about 2,600 guests, including cabinet members and senior administration officials. A suspect fired a shotgun at a Secret Service officer before being tackled and taken into custody, according to law enforcement officials and security spokespeople.
“It does appear that he, he did, in fact, have set out to target folks that work in the administration, likely including the president,” Blanche told NBC News’ "Meet the Press," and added that preliminary information suggested the suspect had traveled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago and then to Washington.
The Secret Service agent struck by the blast was protected by a bulletproof vest and was reported to be in good condition, President Trump told reporters during a late-night briefing at the White House. Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi confirmed the officer had been released from hospital care.
Law enforcement officials identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, a California resident about 31 years old. Little is immediately known about his background, but social media postings indicated he had worked as a teacher in Torrance, near Los Angeles. Washington interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll said the suspect carried a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives and was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.
Carroll said it was too early to determine a motive. Based on initial information, police believe the man had been a guest at the hotel. Blanche said the suspect will be charged in federal court on Monday with assault of a federal officer, discharging a firearm and attempting to kill a federal officer. Blanche also said he did not know whether there was any Iran connection to the attack.
Video footage, later shared by President Trump on his social media platform, showed a man running quickly through a security checkpoint, briefly surprising security personnel before they drew weapons. Officials reported that no counterfire was directed at the gunman as he breached two checkpoints and then was brought down by those on the scene.
“You know, he charged from 50 yards away, so he was very far away from the room. He was moving. He was really moving,” Trump said after the decision to cancel the gala. He and First Lady Melania Trump were hustled offstage and evacuated from the ballroom along with Vice President JD Vance, cabinet members and other attendees.
The sequence of events in the ballroom has been described as chaotic. Video from inside the hotel shows the president and first lady seated on a stage when several loud bangs produced a ripple of gasps through the crowd. Attendees, many in tuxedos and gowns, crouched beneath tables as security personnel drew rifles and marshaled guests to safety. Some staff pushed high-ranking officials to the floor and shielded them with their bodies while others created protective perimeters around tables.
Security teams in tactical gear rushed the stage as those inside the ballroom sought cover. Some guests began chanting “USA, USA!” while the evacuation continued. According to a source, President Trump remained backstage for about an hour after being led off the stage.
The Washington Hilton was the site of a previous historical attack on a president when Ronald Reagan was shot and wounded outside the hotel in 1981. The current incident has prompted renewed scrutiny of security arrangements for high-profile gatherings of senior government officials.
International leaders condemned the attack and expressed relief that those at the event were safe. NATO leader Mark Rutte described the shooting as an assault on free and open societies, and officials worldwide underscored that violence has no place in democratic processes. The British embassy, which was preparing for King Charles’ visit to Washington beginning Monday, said discussions were underway about whether the incident might affect planning for the trip.
Law enforcement placed a focus on how the shotgun was brought into the hotel and past multiple security checkpoints at a venue that draws substantial protective resources. The ballroom where the event was taking place is expansive and heavily attended, factors that law enforcement sources said would be central to the ongoing probe.
President Trump and his allies characterized the attacker as a "lone wolf," a conclusion echoed by officials who have not publicly tied the suspect to any organized group. The acting attorney general’s comments indicated investigators are still piecing together the suspect’s movements in the days before the attack, including the reported multi-leg train journey to Washington.
The shooting has occurred against a backdrop of other recent violent incidents involving Mr. Trump. In an earlier incident in Butler, Pennsylvania, Mr. Trump was wounded in the upper ear by a 20-year-old gunman who was subsequently shot dead by security personnel. In another episode, Secret Service agents identified a man armed and hiding in bushes at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, while the president was on the course; that attack was deemed an assassination attempt and the suspect in that case was later sentenced to life in prison in February.
Officials at the Washington Hilton and federal investigators continue to review closed-circuit video and witness accounts to reconstruct the timeline and identify any security lapses. The rapid response by protective personnel, the apparent use of multiple weapons by the suspect, and the decisions that led to the president and other senior officials being in the same public space underlie the inquiry that will likely extend into operational reviews of similar events.
For now, investigators have detained the suspect and prepared federal charges while continuing to evaluate motive and any potential connections to external actors. Officials have not provided a definitive explanation for the suspect’s intent beyond the assessment that administration personnel, likely including the president, were targeted.
Summary
A man opened fire at a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. A Secret Service agent was protected by body armor and released from hospital. President Trump and other officials were evacuated. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the suspect likely intended to target administration personnel. The suspect was arrested, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, and will be federally charged.
Key points
- The suspect fired a shotgun at a Secret Service officer at a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton and was subdued and arrested; charges will be filed in federal court.
- The attack prompted the immediate evacuation of President Trump, the first lady and other senior officials from an event attended by roughly 2,600 people, highlighting questions about protective arrangements at large official gatherings - sectors affected include government security and event hospitality.
- Authorities are reviewing closed-circuit footage and the suspect’s reported travel from Los Angeles to Chicago to Washington; the probe will examine weapon screening and checkpoint procedures - impacting security services and venue operations.
Risks and uncertainties
- Unclear motive: Officials have not established why the suspect acted, leaving uncertainty about whether the shooting was an isolated incident or linked to broader threats - this affects security and risk assessment in government and private venues.
- Security vulnerabilities: How a shotgun passed through two checkpoints remains under investigation, raising questions about venue screening effectiveness and potential operational changes in hospitality and event security protocols.
- Potential operational impacts: High-profile visits and scheduled events, including diplomatic engagements, may face short-term disruptions as agencies reassess security plans - this could affect event planning and related service providers.