In a startling sequence of events, surveillance cameras recorded the dramatic moment when a gun-toting individual, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, breached security at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
The footage, shared on Truth Social by former President Donald Trump, shows the 31-year-old Allen, clad in black, charging into the Washington Hilton hotel on Saturday evening, wielding a firearm.
Prior to Allen’s rapid dash, security personnel were stationed in the hallway. As he rushed by, they swiftly reacted, drawing their own weapons in response.
The video culminates with several armed security guards sprinting after Allen, leading to a brief exchange of gunfire with law enforcement.
Allen, who is a teacher based in Torrance, California, was eventually subdued and taken into custody after being tackled to the ground.
The annual black-tie event, known for bringing together journalists and politicians, was interrupted shortly after it commenced when the Secret Service had to spring into action following the sound of gunshots around 8:15 p.m.
The suspect, who authorities said was armed with a handgun and multiple knives, is being charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.
He is expected to be arraigned in federal court on Monday.
Harrowing surveillance footage captured the moment gun-wielding shooter Cole Tomas Allen stormed past security at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner
Allen, a teacher from Torrance, California, was tackled to the ground and arrested after running past security with a gun in hand
If convicted, Allen could face 20 years in jail for the assault, while the weapons charges come with a minimum of ten years, with a possibility of life behind bars.
One officer was struck in his bulletproof vest and is expected to recover. Everyone else was unharmed.
Along with the footage, other images showed chaos quickly unfolding, with one picture showing House Speaker Mike Johnson being rushed out of the venue by Secret Service members.
Another image showed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife Cheryl Hines ducking as they ran to safety.
Right behind them was Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller and his pregnant wife Katie Miller.
In another picture, several Secret Service agents were seen with their guns drawn as they gave people orders.
After everyone inside was rushed to safety, including Trump and First Lady Melania, the president revealed what his wife told him just before bullets were fired.
‘It’s always shocking when something like this happens,’ the President said at a White House press briefing in the West Wing within an hour of the violence.
House Speaker Mike Johnson being rushed out of the venue by secret service members
Allen is seen after he was tackled to the ground and handcuffed by authorities
‘The fact that we were sitting next to each other, the first lady on my right, and I heard a noise,’ Trump said, adding they thought ‘it was either a tray or a bullet.’
‘I heard a noise and kinda thought it was a tray going down,’ he said.
Trump said that immediately Melania Trump recognized the sound as a ‘bad noise,’ adding that ‘it was a rather traumatic experience for her.’
‘Melania was very cognizant,’ he continued.
The President also shared his wife’s fear for his safety given the multiple assassination attempts against him.
‘The first lady was doing a terrific job. She loves the country. She recognizes it better than any. But she told me numerous times, she said “you are in a dangerous job.”‘
Just an hour earlier, several gunshots rang out as panicked attendees immediately ducked under their tables to protect themselves.
A few journalists stayed seated or knelt, filming the chaos.
Another image showed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife Cheryl Hines ducking as they ran to safety
In another picture, several Secret Service agents were seen with their guns drawn as they gave people orders
Meanwhile, Secret Service agents and security guards started rushing through the dining room, securing the many top-ranking politicians.
Within seconds, Trump, Melania, Vice President JD Vance, and press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who is expecting her second child, quickly took cover under the table on stage before armed guards rushed them out.
Agents then began combing through the hundreds of tables in the banquet hall to secure Cabinet officials.
The Secret Service’s Counter Assault Team (CAT) rushed the stage draped in black tactical gear with large rifles drawn.
‘It was a gun and some people understood that pretty quickly and other people didn’t. I was watching to see what was happening,’ the President remarked. ‘Melania was cognizant of what happened, and I think she knew.’
‘Again the performance of the Secret Service and the police, all of law enforcement were very good. It was very quick. There was not a lot of time to be thinking. It was a matter of seconds before we were out the door and got into an area.’
Other video footage showed Vance being franticly helped off stage by Secret Service agents as Trump and Melania ducked for cover.
Clips then showed several agents reach for the President and quickly pull him to safety.
Several gunshots rang out as panicked attendees immediately ducked under their tables to protect themselves. A few journalists stayed seated or knelt, filming the chaos
While extracting him, the President appeared to slip and crawl for a second as agents help him regain his footing and rush him to a space behind the stage.
Melania was also seen crawling on the floor, away from the stage, as agents covered her.
Cops swarmed on Allen’s parents’ $877,000 home on Saturday night shortly after he was arrested.
Officials said Allen had no prior criminal record and was not previously known to law enforcement in Washington, DC.
He is one of four siblings, including two sisters, Stephanie and Arviana, and a brother, Gabriel, according to publicly available information.
Photographs circulating online showed him smiling alongside family members at graduations and gatherings.
His social media details he is highly educated and academically accomplished.
On LinkedIn, he describes himself as: ‘A mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, independent game developer by experience, teacher by birth.’
An agent is seen drawing his gun and shouting after gunshots were heard at the dinner
Photographs circulating online showed Allen (second from right) smiling alongside family members at graduations and gatherings
United States Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn called Allen ‘a coward’ who ‘attempted to create a national tragedy’
Allen earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology and later a Master of Science in Computer Science from a California State University.
During his time at Caltech, Allen listed his involvement in the Caltech Christian Fellowship and the Caltech Nerf Club.
More recently, Allen had been working in education. In December 2024, he was named Teacher of the Month at C2 Education, a recognition typically reserved for standout instructors.
United States Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn called Allen ‘a coward’ who ‘attempted to create a national tragedy.’
‘He underestimated the protective capabilities of the U.S. Secret Service, and was stopped at first contact,’ Quinn said before commending agents for their fast response.
‘The strength of our layered security posture was evident, with a myriad of countermeasures still ahead. Grateful for the brave men and women of the Secret Service and our valued Law Enforcement partners.’
