The gunman who opened fire at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner took a cross-country train to the nation's capital before he checked into a room at the hotel where he carried out an attack targeting President Donald Trump and top administration officials, U.S. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Sunday.
Blanche and other officials did not name the man taken into custody in connection with the shooting. A federal law enforcement official confirmed to USA TODAY that the suspect is 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California. Federal agents could be seen swarming a home tied to Allen in Torrance after the April 25 shooting.
In an appearance on NBC News' "Meet the Press," Blanche said the suspect arrived in Washington, DC, via train from Los Angeles with a stop in Chicago. He added that the attacker is believed to have been a guest at the Washington Hilton, where the glamorous annual event took place.
Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.
Authorities say the suspect, armed with multiple guns and knives, charged past a security checkpoint before shots were fired. Trump, the first lady and top administration officials were whisked away by Secret Service agents as thousands of guests in tuxedos and gowns dropped to the floor. One agent was shot by the attacker, but was protected by a bulletproof vest. No one else was injured.
The shooter "set out to target folks that work in the administration, likely including the president," Blanche told NBC News, adding: "We're still investigating a motive, and that's something that will necessarily take a couple of days at least."
Here's what we know about the alleged gunman.
Shooter not cooperating with investigation, will be arraigned Monday
Blanche said the suspect was not cooperating with investigators as of Sunday morning.
Blanche told "Fox News Sunday" and NBC News that investigators are searching through the suspect's emails and other writings. He did not elaborate on what authorities have uncovered so far.
The gunman will be charged Monday with multiple counts, Blanche said, including assault of a federal officer and discharging a firearm in an attempt to kill a federal officer.
Jeanine Pirro, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, said she would not rule out additional charges, including charges related to terrorism.
"If there's anything like that, we will find it, and we will file it," she said.
Suspect acted alone, barely passed security perimeter: officials
Trump described the gunman as a “lone wolf” and said he was “taken down by some very brave members of Secret Service.” On his Truth Social account, the president posted a video of a person rushing past a security checkpoint and a separate photo of a man on the ground, his hands tied behind his back.
Blanche on Sunday said in an interview on CNN's "State of the Union" that authorities "immediately subdued" the suspect after he "got off a couple of shots."
“From what we know from video surveillance and from witnesses who were there, (he) barely got past the perimeter,” Blanche said. The gunman did not reach the hotel's International Ballroom, where the media gala was taking place.
What we know about Cole Tomas Allen
Allen listed his employment as a teacher in a $25 donation to Kamala Harris in 2024. He is registered to vote in California as "no party preference."
His LinkedIn profile indicated he’s been a part-time teacher at C2 Education in Torrance, California. C2 is a national tutoring and college counseling provider.
Allen posted on LinkedIn he received his bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in 2017 and his master's degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills in 2025. Kathy Svitil, a spokesperson for the California Institute of Technology, confirmed a record of an undergraduate student by the name of Cole Allen who graduated in 2017, but declined to release more information.
Lilly McKibbin, a spokesperson for California State University, Dominguez Hills, said a student named Cole Allen graduated with a master’s degree in 2025 but declined to confirm it was the suspect identified in the shooting.
“CSUDH unequivocally condemns this act of violence, as well as all forms of violence. Such acts betray our values as a university and our commitment to fostering a safe environment for our campus communities,” McKibbin wrote in an email.
In December 2024, Allen's employer C2 named him the Teacher of the Month and posted a photo on the group’s social media. Before that job, Allen listed his employment as a self-employed video game developer. The PC game he developed was listed on the website Steam for download tied to his name.
Before that, Allen says he worked for a year as an engineer at IJK Controls based in South Pasadena. And before that, he was a teaching assistant at the California Institute of Technology, according to his LinkedIn.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New details released about alleged gunman at White House press dinner
