The suspect in Saturday night’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting is in custody and hospitalized, officials said. Three sources told CBS News he has been identified as 30-year‑old Cole Allen of Torrance, California. Video from the scene shows a man charging a security checkpoint at the Hilton, where the dinner was taking place, sprinting toward a ballroom full of journalists, politicians and the president before being taken down by law enforcement. Photos and video show the suspect face down, hands shackled and zip‑tied.
Officials say the suspect brought at least two weapons, a shotgun and a handgun, and was able to fire some rounds as he breached the security cordon. Law enforcement, including the Secret Service, responded quickly; the president praised their response afterward and said he was told to leave even though he had wanted to remain and deliver remarks. No motive has been established.
Journalists and guests inside the room described fear and chaos; some were escorted out along a route past protesters. Reporters noted the broader context of recurring political violence against public figures — some attendees are themselves past victims of attacks — and the presence of signs among protesters outside the venue. Authorities continue to investigate the suspect’s background, how he got so close to the event and whether anyone inside the ballroom was targeted specifically.