Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, sprinted past a magnetometer at the Washington Hilton on April 25 and reached the staircase leading directly to the ballroom where President Donald Trump and senior administration officials were seated, according to a Washington Post analysis of surveillance footage and hotel schematics. The depth of the breach exceeded what authorities publicly acknowledged in the immediate aftermath of the attack.
President Trump posts two close-up photos of the Cole Tomas Allen – the suspect in tonight’s shooting at the White House Correspondents Association dinner – following his apprehension. pic.twitter.com/zduoYdLXQj
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) April 26, 2026
Allen, identified by law enforcement as the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner gunman, had anticipated it. In a 1,052-word manifesto sent to family members approximately 10 minutes before the attack, he mocked what he described as “lax precautions” at the hotel and expressed surprise he expected to enter armed without detection.
Armed with a Maverick 12-gauge pump-action shotgun and an Armscor Precision .38 semi-automatic pistol, Allen rushed a Secret Service checkpoint at 8:36 p.m. One agent was struck and protected by a ballistic vest. Allen was subdued without being hit by gunfire.
The manifesto, signed “Cole ‘coldForce’ ‘Friendly Federal Assassin’ Allen,” ranked targets by priority, stating that “Administration officials (not including Mr. Patel)” were first. Allen noted he chose buckshot over slugs to limit collateral casualties.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told NBC‘s Meet the Press that Allen “did, in fact, have set out to target folks that work in the administration, likely including the President,” and confirmed Allen is not cooperating with investigators.
Allen faces two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and one count of assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced, with additional charges, potentially including attempted assassination, expected. Allen had no prior criminal record and legally purchased both firearms from two separate California dealers.
He is scheduled for arraignment today, Monday in federal court.
