A gunman armed “with multiple weapons” has barrelled through security at the White House Correspondents’ dinner in Washington in what looks like an attempt to assassinate Donald Trump. The Telegraph has more.
The US President was rushed off stage by his security detail after several gunshots rang out at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Saturday. …
The shooter was armed with “a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives”, according to police.
One officer was “struck in his vest” as gunfire was exchanged. The agent was taken to hospital but was “in great shape”, Mr Trump told a press conference later that evening.
No shots were fired at the gunman, however, who got past two checkpoints in the Washington Hilton hotel before he was brought down “right outside” the ballroom, raising questions about the event’s security.
The incident took place some 60–100 yards away from the US President and 3,000 other guests, including Melania Trump, White House officials, Hollywood celebrities and journalists.
Video showed Mr Trump and the First Lady sitting at a banquet table on stage engaged in conversation with a guest when a commotion at the rear of the room – caused by the sound of gunshots – broke out.
Trump faces an assassination attempt…
During a dinner event at the Washington Hilton Hotel, he was forcibly escorted out after stumbling several times. pic.twitter.com/clA2ELYcg6
The Mail reports that the shooter is a California teacher named Cole Tomas Allen:
Federal prosecutors have moved quickly and already announced he is being charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.
He is expected to be arraigned in federal court on Monday.
If convicted, Allen could face 20 years in jail for the assault, while the weapons charges come with a minimum of 10 years with a possibility of life behind bars if fired.
“It is clear, based upon what we know so far, this individual was intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could,” United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said, adding that “there will be many more charges based upon the information that we are learning in this very fluid situation.”
Cops swarmed on Allen’s parents’ $877,000 home on Saturday night shortly after he was arrested.
Despite the scale of the attack, officials say Allen had no prior criminal record and was not previously known to law enforcement in Washington, DC.
He is one of four siblings, including two sisters, Stephanie and Arviana, and a brother, Gabriel, according to publicly available information.
Photographs circulating online show him smiling alongside family members at graduations and gatherings.
His social media details he is highly educated and academically accomplished.
On LinkedIn, he describes himself as: “A mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, independent game developer by experience, teacher by birth.”
Allen earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology and later a Master of Science in Computer Science from a California State University.
During his time at Caltech, Allen listed his involvement in the Caltech Christian Fellowship and the Caltech Nerf Club.
More recently, Allen had been working in education. In December 2024, he was named Teacher of the Month at C2 Education, a recognition typically reserved for standout instructors.
The Telegraphreveals the shooter donated to the Kamala Harris campaign: “Mr Allen’s only apparent political activity is a $25 (£19) donation to Ms Harris’s presidential campaign in October 2024 through ActBlue, the primary fundraising platform for Democrats, according to the Federal Election Commission website.”
🚨 NOW: President Trump DEMANDS a NATIONAL RECKONING towards peace, NOT violence, after tonight’s attempted assassination
“It’s not the first time in the past couple of years that our republic has been attacked by a would-be assassin who sought to kill.”
