Alleged shooter 'appeared to be targeting Trump'

Sunday, 26 April 2026 14:02

Authorities have revealed new details about the allegedly armed teacher's "goal".

The suspect who tried to break through a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents' Dinner appeared to be targeting members of the Trump administration, the acting attorney general says.

Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old teacher from Torrance, on the edge of Los Angeles in California, was detained on Saturday night (Sunday AEST) after he allegedly opened fire as he tried to reach the banquet hall of the Hilton hotel where US President Donald Trump was a special guest.

Allen worked as a teacher and video game developer from Southern California, according to public records, and was named "teacher of the month" in December, 2024, according to his employer.

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Allen was allegedly armed with a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives when he was arrested and overnight the FBI swarmed properties in California linked to him. He is due to face court on Monday on multiple firearm-related charges.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told CNN that it was believed that the president was likely one of Allen's targets.

"It does appear the suspect was targeting members of the administration. … We don't have specifics yet about particular members of the administration, except that we do understand that that was his goal and his target," Blanche said.

He said Allen "got off a couple shots" but was "immediately subdued".

"From what we know from video surveillance and from witnesses who were there, (he) barely got past the perimeter," Blanche said.

"He was immediately subdued, and, yes, he got off a couple shots," Blanche said, adding the president spoke with the Secret Service agent who was hit in the chest while wearing a bulletproof vest.

Members of law enforcement respond during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Asked whether the incident marked a security failure, Blanche said he viewed it instead as a success story.

"The goal is not expected to stop every single thing, it's to create a very safe and very secure environment, which is what happened last night," he said.

"Make no mistake about it, the Secret Service did their jobs last night."

Footage shows shooter storming security

CCTV footage posted by Trump on Truth Social shows the moment the alleged shooter rushed security inside the Hilton hotel.

More than half a dozen police and Secret Service agents were manning a security station near the banquet hall.

The alleged shooter sprints past, armed with a long arm, before security immediately began opening fire in his direction.

"He was moving, he was really moving, and the reaction time was great," Trump told reporters.

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Moment alleged shooter rushed security before opening fire

He also posted an image without a caption, of a man being held on a carpeted floor.

"They seem to think he was a lone wolf, and I feel that too," he told reporters.

"He was a guy who looked pretty evil when he was down. He was biting hard."

Another photo taken at the scene shows a man covered with a foil blanket on the floor with his hands cuffed, overseen by law enforcement officers.

Suspect worked as a part-time teacher

A LinkedIn profile matching his name and photo described him as a part-time teacher at C2 Education, a test prep and tutoring company.

C2 named Allen the company's "teacher of the month" in December 2024, according to social media posts from the company. When CNMN attempted to reach out no one answered a phone number for C2.

White House Correspondents Dinner alleged shooter

According to his LinkedIn profile, Allen graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.

He received a master's degree in computer science from California State University-Dominguez Hills last year.

Allen also described himself as a video game developer on his LinkedIn profile, and appears to have published an indie game called Bohrdom for sale on the Steam gaming platform for $US1.99.

He registered a trademark for the game's name in 2018, according to federal trademark records.

Suspect thought to have worked alone

Interim Washington, DC police chief Jeffery W Carroll said investigators had no reason to believe at this time that anyone else was involved.

Carroll 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.

US 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.

Media have been seen at a house connected to him in the Californian city.

Trump called the shooter a "whack job". and a "sick person".

- with CNN, AP.

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