HIBAPRESS sources reported that the perpetrator of the shooting incident outside the White House Correspondents' Dinner admitted during initial investigations that he was targeting officials in the administration of US President Donald Trump.
According to CBS News, quoting two law enforcement sources, the suspect, Cole Allen, stated after his arrest that he was planning to target government officials, without directly specifying President Trump, contenting himself with referring to "administration officials." Details of the incident and security evacuation The incident occurred on Saturday evening outside the hall that hosted the White House Correspondents' Dinner, which was attended by President Trump, his wife Melania, and a number of senior officials. They were evacuated quickly and safely without recording any serious injuries among those present. According to official data, a Secret Service agent was shot, but the bulletproof vest prevented him from being seriously injured, and he is expected to make a full recovery. Identity of the suspect and ongoing investigations The identity of the suspect was identified as Cole Thomas Allen, 31 years old, from the city of Torrance, California, and he was arrested at the scene. Officials stated that the investigations have not yet revealed the final motive, but the initial indications suggest that he acted alone, as security officials confirmed that there is no data linking the incident to any external organization. The Acting Attorney General also pointed out that the accused had purchased firearms years ago and that he is cooperating with the investigations, with the expectation of formal charges being filed against him on Monday. Attack proceedings and arming of the perpetrator Security sources reported that between five and eight shots were fired during the incident. During the attempted raid, the suspect was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and several knives, before being apprehended outside the Washington Hilton Hotel. Photos posted by President Trump on social media showed the suspect after his arrest, having been restrained and later transported for an assessment of his health. The suspect's background and career path Initial information indicates that Cole Allen previously worked for an educational company in California, where he received the "Teacher of the Month" award in 2024, and he graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 2017. However, his continued employment with the company has not been confirmed, while educational authorities clarified that he is not currently affiliated with any official educational institution. Possible charges and developments in the case The Attorney General in Washington confirmed that the suspect will face initial charges including using a firearm during the commission of a violent crime and assaulting a federal employee with a dangerous weapon, with the possibility of adding other charges as the investigations progress. She stressed that the current data indicates a clear intention to cause as much harm as possible, at a time when security and judicial investigations are still ongoing to uncover all the circumstances of the incident.
