By Joke Kujenya
THE GUNMAN who opened fire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California, after he stormed a security area at the Washington Hilton and was taken into custody, authorities said.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the gunfire forced security officials to quickly rush off United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump and senior officials from the ballroom as an armed man stormed a security area and was taken into custody.
US media identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen from California, in the south-western suburbs of Los Angeles.
While two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press he was the gunman, CBS News reported he worked as a tutor in Torrance after graduating from the California Institute of Technology.
Police said he was a guest at the Washington Hilton, where the dinner was taking place, and was carrying multiple weapons including guns and knives.
Authorities said he is receiving hospital treatment following the incident and is expected to be formally charged on Monday. Shots were heard at about 20:35ET, prompting guests to take cover as Secret Service agents rushed Trump and his cabinet from the room.
Trump later wrote on Truth Social at 21:17 that the alleged gunman “has been apprehended” and said at 21:36 he was leaving the venue at the request of law enforcement.
At 22:29, Trump shared footage appearing to show the start of the shooting and followed it with a photograph of the suspect.
He held a news conference at 22:30 at the White House alongside FBI Director Kash Patel and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, saying the “impression” was that the suspect was a “lone wolf”.
US media named Allen at about 22:50, citing multiple sources, while live pictures at about 23:10 showed police searching a property in Torrance, California.
At about 23:15, US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said authorities planned to formally charge the suspect in federal court on Monday.
Officials said a man armed with guns and knives rushed towards the ballroom before Secret Service agents swarmed him and took him into custody.
Guests dived under tables as shots were heard outside the ballroom. One law enforcement official said the gunman had opened fire. A law enforcement officer was shot in a bullet resistant vest and is expected to be OK.
Trump described the suspect as a “sick person” and said, “When you’re impactful, they go after you. When you’re not impactful, they leave you alone.”
He added, “They seem to think he was a lone wolf.”
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said she had “no reason” to believe anyone else was involved and added, “There does not appear to be any sort of danger to the public at this time.”
All officials protected by the Secret Service were evacuated, including Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said charges related to the attack would be filed shortly and said “the investigation is obviously ongoing and just started.”
FBI Director Kash Patel said agents were examining a long gun and shell casings recovered at the scene and interviewing witnesses.
Guests were dining when noise began, which Trump said he initially thought was a tray dropping, while some journalists reported hearing multiple gunshots.
The Secret Service and other authorities moved into the room as hundreds of guests ducked under tables.
Video posted by Trump showed the suspect running past security barricades as agents moved towards him.
The Secret Service said the shooting occurred at a screening area and confirmed one individual was in custody.
“We will do this again,” said Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, after the event was scrapped for the night.
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