Suspect Identified in Shooting at White House Correspondents' Dinner
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
WASHINGTON D.C. – Authorities have identified the suspect who opened fire on security officers during the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, D.C., on Saturday. The suspect, Cole Thomas Allen, a 31-year-old man from Torrance, Southern California, was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and several knives when he breached a security checkpoint and ran toward the dinner venue, according to Jeff Carroll, acting police chief of the Metropolitan Police Department. Allen exchanged gunfire with law enforcement and was subdued without injury. A Secret Service agent was struck in the bulletproof vest but is expected to recover and was discharged from a local hospital early Sunday. Allen's motives remain unclear, and authorities have stated he has no criminal record and was not previously on their radar. Allen, a graduate of Caltech and California State University, Dominguez Hills, has worked as a mechanical engineer, freelance video game developer, and part-time tutor. Former acquaintances described him as highly intelligent and kind, making the incident surprising. Federal prosecutor Jeanine Pirro announced charges against Allen, including using a firearm during a violent crime and assaulting a federal officer. The FBI and Secret Service are investigating a residence linked to Allen in Torrance. The shooting disrupted the annual dinner attended by President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other officials. Trump described the incident as startling but praised the swift response of security personnel. Allen is expected to appear in federal court on Monday.