A significant incident unfolded during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night, involving a shooting that led to the identification and arrest of the suspect. Reports from New York Post correspondent Karol Markowicz indicate that the gunman has been identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, a resident of Torrance, California. However, this claim has yet to be officially confirmed by the Secret Service or other relevant law enforcement agencies.
Incident Overview
Multiple media reports, including one from CNN, corroborate details regarding the suspect, describing him as a male approximately 30 years old from the Los Angeles area. Video footage from the scene depicts a shirtless man, surrounded by law enforcement, lying face down on the ground and handcuffed.
The shooting incident is reported to have involved at least six gunshots, one of which struck a Secret Service agent’s chest plate. Following the incident, agents returned fire, subsequently taking the gunman into custody. As of the latest updates, it remains unclear whether the suspect sustained injuries from the gunfire.
Casualties and Responses
Washington Post correspondent John Hudson confirmed that the shooter is alive and has been transported to a nearby hospital. He also reported that a Secret Service agent was injured during the exchange. Witnesses on the scene described a chaotic response as agents rushed into action to stop Cole Thomas Allen.
The shooting occurred near the main magnetometer screening area outside the event ballroom. Pool reports indicate that loud sounds consistent with gunfire were first heard around 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Secret Service agents responded swiftly, warning everyone as they made their way through to the shooter.