Federal law enforcement officials confirmed to USA TODAY that the suspect in custody is Cole Thomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California.
The gunman who opened fire at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner took a cross-country train to the nation’s capital before checking into his hotel room, where he targeted President Donald Trump and senior administration officials in an attack, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Sunday.
Blanche and other officials did not release the name of the man detained in connection with the shooting. Federal law enforcement officials confirmed to USA TODAY that the suspect is Cole Thomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California. Federal agents were seen flocking to Allen’s home in Torrance after the April 25 shooting.
Appearing on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Blanche said the suspect traveled from Los Angeles, stopped in Chicago, and then arrived in Washington, D.C., by train. He added that the attackers were believed to have been guests at the Washington Hilton, where the glitzy annual event was being held.
Authorities said the suspect, armed with multiple guns and knives, charged through a security checkpoint before shots were fired. Thousands of guests in tuxedos and gowns fell to the floor as First Lady Trump and senior administration officials were led away by Secret Service agents. One of the agents was shot by the assailants, but was protected by a bulletproof vest. There were no other injuries.
Blanche told NBC News that the gunman “intended to target members of the administration, possibly including the president,” adding: “We’re still investigating the motive, which will take at least a few days.”
Here’s what we know about the suspected shooter.
The gunman did not cooperate with investigators and will be arraigned on Monday.
Blanche said the suspect was not cooperating with the investigation as of Sunday morning.
Blanche told “Fox News Sunday” and NBC News that investigators are looking into the suspect’s emails and other posts. He did not elaborate on what authorities have revealed so far.
The gunman will be arraigned Monday on multiple charges, including assault on a federal officer and discharging a firearm with intent to kill a federal officer, Blanche said.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said she would not rule out additional charges, including terrorism-related charges.
“If there is something like that, we will find it and submit it,” she said.
Suspect acted alone, barely managed to cross security perimeter: officials
President Trump described the gunman as a “lone wolf” and said he was brought down by “very brave members of the Secret Service.” The president posted on his Truth Social account a video of a person rushing through a security checkpoint and another photo of a man lying on the ground with his hands tied behind his back.
Blanche said in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday that authorities “immediately subdued” the suspect after he was “shot several times.”
“Based on what we know from video surveillance and witnesses who were at the scene, it appears (he) just barely crossed the line,” Blanche said. The gunman did not arrive at the hotel’s International Ballroom, where a media gala was being held.
What we know about Cole Thomas Allen
Allen listed his job as a teacher when donating $25 to Kamala Harris in 2024. He is registered to vote in California with “no party preference.”
His LinkedIn profile shows he was a part-time teacher at C2 Education in Torrance, California. C2 is a national tutoring and college counseling provider.
Allen posted on LinkedIn that he earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from California Institute of Technology in 2017 and a master’s degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills in 2025. Caltech spokeswoman Kathy Svitil confirmed the records of an undergraduate named Cole Allen, who graduated in 2017, but declined to release further information.
California State University Dominguez Hills spokeswoman Lily McKibbin said a student named Cole Allen will graduate with a master’s degree in 2025, but declined to confirm that he was the suspect identified in the shooting.
“CSUDH unequivocally condemns this act of violence, as well as all forms of violence. Such acts betray our values as a university and our commitment to promoting a safe environment for the campus community,” McKibbin wrote in an email.
In December 2024, Allen’s employer, C2, named him Teacher of the Month and posted a photo on the group’s social media. Before taking that job, Allen listed his occupation as a self-employed video game developer. A PC game he developed was posted on the website Steam for download in association with his name.
Before that, Allen said he worked as an engineer for South Pasadena-based IJK Controls for a year. Prior to that, he was a teaching assistant at the California Institute of Technology, according to his LinkedIn.
