A gunman armed with multiple weapons charged a Secret Service checkpoint at the Washington Hilton hotel on Saturday evening during the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The suspect exchanged gunfire with law enforcement before being tackled and taken into custody.

Why it matters: the attack targeted the highest-profile gathering of press and political leaders in the American calendar, raising immediate questions about event security and political violence.

What happened

Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, approached the main security screening area of the dinner at approximately 8 p.m. According to law enforcement officials, Allen charged at a Secret Service checkpoint in the hotel lobby and opened fire.

Secret Service agents returned fire and, along with other officers, subdued Allen. One agent was struck in the chest but was saved by a bulletproof vest. The agent is “doing great,” according to President Trump, and is expected to recover fully.

The evacuation

Trump, who was attending the correspondents’ dinner for the first time as a sitting president, was rushed offstage by Secret Service agents. First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Cabinet members were also evacuated from the ballroom.

Guests inside the ballroom ducked under tables as security personnel swarmed the venue. The dinner was suspended.

The suspect

Allen graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 2017 with a degree in mechanical engineering and held a master’s in computer science from California State University-Dominguez Hills. He worked as a teacher at C2 Education and as an indie video game developer.

Federal Election Commission records show Allen donated $25 to Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign in October 2024. Law enforcement has not released an official statement on motive.

What happens next

Allen faces two federal counts: using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon. The investigation is ongoing.

Trump addressed the nation shortly after the incident, calling Allen a “lone wolf.” Security analysts noted that the Washington Hilton, site of the 1981 assassination attempt on President Reagan, has long been considered a high-risk venue despite extensive security protocols.

The White House Correspondents’ Association said it would work with the Secret Service to review security arrangements for future events.