A 31-year-old man from Torrance, California, has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, the suspect arrested after shots were fired inside the Washington Hilton hotel during the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night.

According to law enforcement sources cited by CBS News, Allen told security agents he intended to shoot officials from the Trump administration. Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche stated on NBC's Meet the Press that preliminary findings suggest the suspect was targeting administration officials, "likely" including President Donald Trump.

Blanche noted that investigators are examining reports that the alleged gunman assembled the weapon inside the hotel, emphasizing that he "didn't get very far" and "barely broke the perimeter." CBS reported that five to eight gunshots were fired, and police confirmed an exchange of gunfire between security and the suspect.

Washington interim police chief Jeffery Carroll said Allen was a guest at the hotel and was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives. He appeared to be a lone actor and was not struck by gunfire but taken to hospital for evaluation.

Trump told Fox News that the suspect "had a lot of hatred in his heart for a while" and possessed a "manifesto." US media report a history of anti-Trump social media posts by Allen. A document allegedly linked to the suspect states his intention to target administration members "from highest-ranking to lowest."

Allen is a mechanical engineer, game developer, and teacher who graduated from the California Institute of Technology. He donated $25 to Kamala Harris's campaign in October 2024. He faces charges of using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, with a formal charging expected Monday.

Source: www.bbc.com