Trump and top officials were rushed to safety after shots were heard outside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton, where the dinner was underway. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the suspect “got off a few shots” before being subdued by law enforcement near a staircase leading to the ballroom.
The suspect was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives when he charged through a security checkpoint. A Secret Service agent was struck by at least one round, but was protected by a bulletproof vest and is expected to be OK. The suspect was apprehended at the scene.
Who Is Cole Allen?
Cole Tomas Allen, 31, is an educator from Torrance, California. He earned a degree in mechanical engineering at Caltech in 2017, then went on to receive a master’s in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills, in 2025.
A LinkedIn profile matching Allen’s name described him as a part-time teacher at C2 Education, a test prep and tutoring company, which even named him “teacher of the month” in December 2024. He also described himself as a video game developer and appears to have published an indie game on Steam.
How He Got There
Authorities believe Allen traveled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago, and then from Chicago to Washington, D.C., where he checked into the Washington Hilton — the very hotel hosting the dinner — in the day or two before the event.
His two firearms were both purchased legally — a .38-caliber semi-automatic pistol in 2023, and a 12-gauge shotgun in August 2025. He was not on law enforcement’s radar before the shooting.
The Manifesto & Motive
The suspected gunman had written a manifesto clearly stating he wanted to target administration officials, which he sent to family members minutes before the incident. His brother then notified the New London Police Department in Connecticut, but the warning came too late to prevent the attack.
In the note, Allen criticized Trump without naming him and said he did not intend to target guests or hotel employees. He also wrote about expecting tighter security at the hotel. Authorities also found anti-Trump and anti-Christian rhetoric on his social media accounts.
Charges & Investigation
U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro announced Allen will be charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon, with more charges expected as the investigation unfolds. “It is clear, based upon what we know so far, that this individual was intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could,” Pirro said.
FBI agents secured his Torrance, California home, with a federal judge expected to sign a search warrant to allow a full search of the property.
Global Reaction
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the shooting, calling it an attack on democratic institutions and the freedom of the press, and expressing relief that Trump and all attendees were safe. The UAE also strongly condemned the attack, calling it a heinous crime that threatens global stability.
This is still a rapidly developing story — more charges and details from the investigation are expected in the coming hours.
