Police Identify Suspect in Hilton Shooting

Washington Hilton shooting: Authorities identified Cole Tomas Allen, 31, an educator from Torrance, California, as the suspect in a shooting outside the Washington Hilton Hotel on Saturday night during the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Officials said President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were safely evacuated from the area as the incident unfolded.

Law enforcement sources said a Secret Service agent was injured but that the harm was not life-threatening because the agent’s bulletproof vest absorbed the impact. Allen was apprehended at the scene, and investigators said they believe he acted alone.

Officials said Allen is expected to face charges that include using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon. Law enforcement sources said he had a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives, and that he attempted to breach a security checkpoint outside the hotel.

Investigators said they believe the intended targets were members of the Trump administration. Law enforcement sources said Allen stated after his arrest that he intended to shoot administration officials.

Authorities said Allen was a guest at the Washington Hilton, and investigators are examining his hotel room as part of the inquiry. Federal agents also searched his home in Torrance, California, following the incident, officials said.

Officials described Allen’s educational background as including an engineering degree from Caltech in 2017 and a master’s degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills in 2025. Law enforcement sources said he purchased the shotgun used in the incident in August 2025 and bought another semiautomatic pistol in 2023.

The shooting occurred in the vicinity of a high-profile political and media event that draws senior government officials and public figures, and the response involved protective measures for the president and first lady, according to officials.

Authorities have not released additional details on the investigation’s findings, including what investigators may recover from Allen’s hotel room or home searches, and officials have not provided further information on potential motives beyond the statements attributed to Allen.