At least six gunshots rang out near the ballroom during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on April 25, 2026, authorities said. The suspected shooter was stopped at a security checkpoint close to the metal detectors and taken into custody; President Trump, the first lady and other protectees were escorted to safety and are uninjured.
Security response and immediate aftermath
The Secret Service and D.C. Metropolitan Police are leading the investigation into the shooting near the main screening area, officials said. Secret Service spokespeople and leaders praised agents for quickly apprehending the suspect at the first point of contact, noting the agency’s layered protections. One Secret Service agent was struck but was wearing a bulletproof vest and is expected to recover, according to sources.
Witnesses said shots were heard around 8:30 p.m. near a back stairwell opposite the stage where the president was seated. Guests in the ballroom — including cabinet members and journalists — ducked behind tables, some were evacuated, and video captured people sheltering and security officers with weapons drawn. Several attendees reported a smell of gunpowder near the rear of the room.
Suspect identified and background
Three sources identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Allen of Torrance, California. Authorities say he was reportedly a guest at the hotel. Officials recovered a shotgun and a handgun and said he also carried multiple knives. Law enforcement sources said Allen told investigators he intended to shoot “administration officials,” though he did not explicitly say he had targeted President Trump.
Reports about Allen’s background say he previously worked as a tutor in Torrance, received a “Teacher of the Month” award from C2 Education in December 2024, and graduated from Caltech in 2017. The suspect was injured during the incident and was taken to a hospital for evaluation.
Charges and investigation
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the probe is ongoing and that charges will be filed shortly. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the suspect faces at least charges for using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, and she predicted additional charges as the investigation continues.
Authorities secured a hotel room tied to the suspect and are executing search warrants to determine what was inside. Officials said they believe he acted alone.
Who was at the dinner
Those ushered away by agents included senior officials and journalists. Among those reported to have been in the ballroom and escorted from the scene were Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services head Mehmet Oz, FBI Director Kash Patel, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. White House Correspondents’ Association president and CBS News senior White House correspondent Weijia Jiang, who sat next to the president, described the incident as traumatic and said it underscored how fragile public freedoms can feel for those in the room.
President Trump’s remarks and social posts
President Trump was quickly removed from the stage and later spoke at a White House briefing. He confirmed that one law enforcement officer had been shot but was likely saved by a vest. Trump said the shooter charged the screening area from some distance away, labeled the suspect a “whack job” and a “sick person,” and urged Americans to recommit to resolving differences peacefully. He posted photos and security video on his social platform appearing to show the suspect on the ground and in handcuffs and praised the speed of secret service and police response.
Reactions and next steps
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries thanked law enforcement and called for an end to political violence and chaos. Multiple White House officials, including the acting attorney general, the FBI director and the homeland security secretary, participated in briefings after the incident.
In the hours after the shooting, law enforcement accounts varied about the suspect’s status; officials later said the person had been “neutralized” but was alive and in custody. Investigators continue to examine motive, whether the suspect had specific targets, and any broader threat. Additional charges and details are expected as search warrants are executed and the probe develops.