A volunteer at the White House Correspondents' Dinner has revealed that the suspected gunman assembled a long weapon inside an unsecured, lightly monitored area near a terrace-level entrance before the attack unfolded near the ballroom. Helen Mabus, a volunteer working the event, described a makeshift room near the entrance where bar carts were stored and where there was no security at the time.
According to Mabus, the suspect was partially out of view of security as he handled the weapon inside the room before moving toward the main event space. He put the weapon together and then ran towards the stairs to go down to the ballroom. Mabus estimated hearing at least 10 shots, and said the gunfire caused immediate panic with people screaming and running as armed personnel responded. She fled in the opposite direction and did not see the suspect apprehended.
The gunman, identified as Cole Allen of Torrance, California, was arrested after allegedly entering the Washington Hilton hotel and moving toward the ballroom where President Trump and about 2,500 guests were gathered. Trump described him as a likely lone wolf whack job who looked pretty evil.
The shooting began just after 8:30 pm near the indoor security screening area, as guests were being served salad. The Secret Service evacuated Trump from the room, while members of his cabinet took cover under tables before being moved out. A law enforcement officer was shot, with the bullet striking his bulletproof vest.
DC police chief Jeffrey Carroll said the suspect was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives as he ran into that checkpoint. At this point, it does appear he is a lone actor and a lone gunman, and there does not appear to be any sort of danger to the public. Allen was charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and with assault of a federal officer, US attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said Saturday.
Dramatic video posted on social media by Trump shows Allen opening fire and rushing toward the ballroom. A LinkedIn profile matching his name and photo described him as a teacher at C2 Education, a tutoring and test prep company. The company awarded him teacher of the month in December 2024, according to social media posts.
