The man accused of opening fire outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner will appear in a federal courtroom in Washington on Monday, after law enforcement subdued him outside a packed ballroom holding thousands of journalists and senior American officials. Cole Thomas Allen, 31, a part-time teacher and mechanical engineer from Torrance, California, is set to be arraigned on charges including using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.
Allen arrived at the Washington Hilton on Saturday evening armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives, according to federal authorities.
He rushed a security checkpoint in what investigators describe as a premeditated attempt to reach the dinner venue. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were evacuated safely before the confrontation escalated.
A Secret Service agent was struck by at least one round during the exchange of gunfire with law enforcement, but the officer was protected by a bulletproof vest and is expected to make a full recovery. No attendees of the dinner were seriously injured.
What drove Allen to the Washington Hilton
Federal investigators say Allen sent a note to family members approximately ten minutes before the attack. In the note, he described himself as a “friendly federal assassin” and stated he believed it was his duty to target members of the Trump administration, according to reporting by The Washington Post.
The White House confirmed Monday that Allen “clearly stated” his intent to target administration officials.
Allen holds a degree in mechanical engineering from Caltech, where he graduated in 2017, and a master’s degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills, completed in 2025.
He had been working as a part-time teacher at C2 Education, a test preparation and tutoring company.
The company named him teacher of the month in December 2024. Nothing in his known public record flagged him as a threat before Saturday’s attack.
What the suspect faces in court
Allen is expected to be formally arraigned in federal court in Washington today, Monday 27 April. Federal prosecutors are anticipated to oppose bail, given the stated intention to target government officials and the level of armament he carried to the venue.
The two charges he faces carry mandatory minimum sentences, and the government has not ruled out additional charges as the investigation continues.
The incident drew swift condemnation from across the political spectrum and raised immediate questions about the security apparatus protecting senior government officials at high-profile public events.
No timeline has been given for a full trial. The attack took place exactly one week before a scheduled congressional hearing into executive protection protocols.
