Suspected gunman in WH Correspondents’ Dinner shooting: What we know so far
Update: DC officials say WHCD shooting suspect in custody was lone gunman
DC and federal law enforcement officials provided an update after shots were fired outside the White House Correspondents Dinner. Authorities said the suspect in custody was the lone gunman, and he was armed with multiple weapons as he charged a security checkpoint at the event.
WASHINGTON - A suspected gunman believed to be from California opened fire outside the Washington Hilton, where the annual dinner of White House correspondents was being held, prompting a massive law enforcement response and the evacuation of President Donald Trump and other attendees.
Trump was not injured, and other top U.S. leaders were evacuated after what officials described as a security threat.
One law enforcement official said a gunman had opened fire. A law enforcement officer was shot in the bullet-resistant vest but is expected to be OK, one officer told The Associated Press.
Trump and hundreds of guests were gathered. The event was abruptly canceled and is expected to be rescheduled.
Secret Service agents and other law enforcement officers quickly flooded the area as guests took cover under tables. Gasps rippled through the ballroom as the situation unfolded, and journalists scrambled to relay information as it came in.
President Donald Trump shared this image of the suspected gunman. (Credit: @realDonaldTrump)
What we know about the suspected gunman
What we know:
The shooting suspect was identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press.
President Donald Trump shared an image of the suspected gunman on Truth Social.
Interim D.C. Police Chief Carroll said the shooting suspect is believed to have been a hotel guest, though the intended target remains unknown.
Carroll said the suspect was armed with a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives. He said investigators had no reason to believe at this time that anyone else was involved.
Carroll, the police chief, said there "does not appear to be any sort of danger to the public" now and that investigators believe the suspect was working alone.
Guests take cover after a un-kown safety event took place as President Donald Trump was to speak to attendees of the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump,
What we don't know:
Carroll, the interim police chief, said that he could not say at this point what the shooter’s motivation was, and that it is too soon to know who the suspect had intended to target in the shooting.
What they're saying:
Trump said the suspect was armed with multiple weapons before being stopped by the Secret Service. One officer was shot, but he was protected by a bulletproof vest.
"He was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job," Trump said in a late night news conference at the White House.
"My impression is he was a lone wolf, whack job. These are crazy people. He's a crazy people, and they have to be dealt with," he added.
President Trump speaks after shots fired at White House Correspondents Dinner
President Donald Trump held a press briefing after being evacuated from the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday night, after shots were fired near the ballroom where the event was taking place at the Washington Hilton. The President said praised Secret Service and the response by law enforcement.
What you can do:
The FBI says if you have any information about the suspected gunman to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
What's next:
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said charges will be filed shortly, and that the nature of the charges would be obvious considering what had happened at the dinner. Blanche stressed that "the investigation is obviously ongoing and just started."
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the suspect is being charged preliminarily with two charges related to using a firearm and assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon, but that there will be many more charges filed "based on the information that we are learning in this very fluid situation."
Pirro said the suspect would be arraigned on Monday in federal district court.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency is examining a long gun and shell casings recovered from the scene, as well as interviewing witnesses from the dinner. He urged anyone with information to come forward.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
The Source: The Associated Press contributed to this report. The information in this story comes from a combination of official statements and early reporting, including remarks from President Donald Trump, briefings from law enforcement officials, and updates from federal agencies such as the FBI. This story was reported from Los Angeles.