The Headline
Shooting chaos at correspondents' dinner
Key Facts
- The shooting suspect was identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California, according to law enforcement officials.

- At around 8:36 PM, a sole gunman rushed a Secret Service checkpoint at the Washington Hilton.
- The acting police chief stated the suspect was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives.
- A Secret Service agent was shot during the incident but survived due to his bulletproof vest, according to President Trump.1
- Guests inside the ballroom were instructed to get down as the situation escalated, resulting in attendees taking cover under chairs and tables.1
- Trump indicated he was possibly the target, responding: I guess when asked.
- The acting attorney general expects charges to be filed shortly, citing multiple potential charges surrounding the shooting.
- Trump struck a somber tone as he addressed reporters at the White House, remarking that being president is “a dangerous profession”.

- Following the event, Trump stated that the incident had strangely caused political adversaries and the press to become “totally unified.”1
