Authorities have identified 31-year-old Cole Allen as the suspected gunman in Saturday’s shooting at the annual White House Correspondents Dinner. The incident took place at the Washington Hilton, where high-profile guests, including President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, were in attendance.
Allen is expected to be arraigned Monday on preliminary charges that include using a firearm during a crime of violence and assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon. The charges were outlined by Jeanine Pirro. Authorities say Allen was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives at the time of the shooting.
During the incident, one federal officer was struck but survived due to a bulletproof vest, preventing what could have been more serious injuries. Officials have not released additional details about the officer’s condition.
The motive behind the shooting remains under investigation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice have not yet provided further comment as authorities continue to gather information.
Following the shooting, President Trump briefly addressed reporters and later posted images on Truth Social appearing to show the suspect detained at the scene.
Allen, a resident of Torrance, California, works as a professional video game designer. He holds a master’s degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills and earned a mechanical engineering degree from California Institute of Technology.
Campaign finance records show Allen previously made a small political donation in support of Kamala Harris during a past presidential campaign cycle. Authorities have not indicated whether that detail is relevant to the investigation.
Allen has developed several independent video games, including “First Law,” a physics-based platformer released in 2024, and “Bohrdom,” a fast-paced hybrid racing and projectile-style game. Investigators have not suggested any connection between his professional work and the shooting.
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