Trump evacuated as gunman storms Washington event

President Trump says shooting incident likely unrelated to Iran, as police identify the armed suspect who forced his way into the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

A gunman stormed a Washington, D.C., venue hosting an event for journalists in the capital Saturday night, forcing the Secret Service to evacuate President Donald Trump.

Authorities say that a man armed with a shotgun, a pistol, and several knives broke into the White House Correspondents’ Dinner after he charged through a checkpoint set up by the Secret Service.

The incident began at 8:36 p.m. local time, when the suspect penetrated the Secret Service security perimeter.

The man then sprinted toward the ballroom where the event was being held, and where President Trump was addressing journalists.

Attendees were forced to flee, with Secret Service agents spiriting the president out of the ballroom.

Security personnel engaged in a brief gun battle with the gunman, Washington, D.C., Metro Police Chief Jeffery Carroll told reporters.

After the gun battle, the suspect was subdued and taken into custody.

Carroll said the attack appeared to be a lone-wolf incident, with no other suspects involved.

The suspect was not wounded in the gun battle, but Carroll said he was taken by Secret Service officers to a local hospital for evaluation.

One officer was wounded in the gun battle, Trump said, but added that he is in “great shape” thanks to a bulletproof vest.

The gunman has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California. According to a report by CBS News, Allen works as a tutor for the C2 Education firm in Torrance and was named “Teacher of the Month” in December 2024.

According to Carroll, Allen had registered as a guest at the hotel where the event was being held.

“Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account shortly after he was evacuated.

“They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we ‘LET THE SHOW GO ON’ but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we’ll just, plain, have to do it again.”

Speaking with reporters later Saturday night, Trump said there did not appear to be any link between the gunman and the war with Iran.

United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said that the investigation of Allen and his attack is ongoing and that prosecutors are preparing to charge him with two counts of using a firearm during a violent crime and one count of assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.

“It is clear, based upon what we know so far, that this individual was intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could,” Pirro said.