New details are emerging about Cole Tomas Allen, the man arrested after shots were fired inside the Washington Hilton hotel during the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night. The 31-year-old, from Torrance, California, is expected in court on Monday.
Police say Allen exchanged gunfire with security agents on a floor above where President Trump and his cabinet were gathered. After his arrest, Allen told authorities he wanted to shoot officials in the Trump administration, according to CBS News.
Allen's social media activity reveals a history of anti-Trump posts. On X, he posted in November 2024 that he voted for Kamala Harris. On Bluesky, he called Trump a "villain" and a "desperate man" in April. He also criticized journalists planning to wear white pocket squares at the dinner, calling them "pathetic."
A document described as a manifesto, reportedly sent to his family before the attack, stated he wanted to target Trump administration officials "from highest-ranking to lowest." The BBC has not independently verified this document.
Interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll said Allen was a guest at the hotel and was armed with a shotgun, handgun, and multiple knives. Between five and eight shots were fired. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Allen likely traveled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago, then to Washington.
FBI agents searched a California address linked to Allen. Neighbors expressed shock, describing him as quiet and living with his parents. Voter records show he registered with no party preference and donated $25 to ActBlue for Kamala Harris's campaign in October 2024.
Allen's LinkedIn profile lists him as a mechanical engineer, game developer, and teacher. He earned a master's in computer science in 2025 from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and previously studied at Caltech, where he participated in Christian fellowship. He developed a game called "Bohrdom" on Steam.
Trump commented on the suspect, saying he "had a lot of hatred in his heart" and noted his family knew he had "difficulties." He also claimed the man was "strongly anti-Christian."