11 quick facts about Cole Allen, suspect behind White House dinner shooting
Cole Thomas Allen, the 31-year-old suspect accused of attempting an attack at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night, has come under intense investigation after authorities said he left
Cole Thomas Allen, the 31-year-old suspect accused of attempting an attack at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night, has come under intense investigation after authorities said he left behind a written “manifesto” outlining plans to target officials linked to the Trump administration.
According to officials, the incident triggered a swift security response, leading to the safe evacuation of Donald Trump and Melania Trump, while no attendees suffered serious injuries. A Secret Service agent was struck during the chaos but survived due to protective gear.
Allen was immediately apprehended at the scene, as federal authorities, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, launched a full-scale investigation into his motive and background.
Here are quick facts about Cole Allen, man behind White House dinner shooting:
Cole Thomas Allen is a 31-year-old educator from Torrance, California, who is also linked to work as a self-employed video game developer and part-time teacher.
He has a strong academic background, earning a degree in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in 2017 and later obtaining a master’s degree in computer science from California State University Dominguez Hills in 2025.
Investigators say he left behind a written “manifesto” in which he allegedly expressed intent to target officials in the Trump administration, while authorities also discovered anti-Trump and anti-Christian rhetoric on his social media accounts.
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The incident took place during the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel, where he allegedly fired between five and eight shots while attempting to breach a security checkpoint, carrying a shotgun, handgun, and multiple knives, with a Secret Service agent struck but protected by a bulletproof vest.
Allen was apprehended at the scene and later taken to a hospital for evaluation, while officials say he has not been cooperating with investigators.
Authorities revealed that he checked into the hotel a day before the event and traveled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago and then to Washington, D.C., sending troubling writings to family members prior to the attack, which prompted one relative to alert police.
He had a record of firearm ownership, having purchased the shotgun used in the attack in August 2025 and previously acquiring a semiautomatic pistol in 2023, while family members said he regularly trained at shooting ranges.
According to investigators, family members described him as someone who made radical statements and frequently talked about doing “something” to fix the world, and he was reportedly associated with a group called “The Wide Awakes” and attended a “No Kings” protest in California.
Records also show he made a $25 donation through ActBlue to support Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign in 2024.
He is currently facing federal charges including the use of a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, with authorities indicating that more charges could follow as investigations progress.
Officials, including Donald Trump, believe he acted alone, while the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Secret Service continue to investigate his motive and background.
