An armed suspect was arrested after attempting to breach the White House Correspondents' Dinner, injuring a Secret Service agent and triggering an evacuation.
An armed suspect attempted to breach a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner on April 25, 2026, prompting the evacuation of President Donald Trump and other senior officials from the Washington Hilton. The incident unfolded shortly after the high-profile dinner began, transforming an evening attended by journalists, politicians and government officials into a rapidly developing security emergency. Authorities identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California. Investigators allege that Allen approached a security checkpoint carrying multiple weapons, including a shotgun, handgun and knives. Law enforcement officers intervened before he could reach the main ballroom.
Gunfire erupted during the confrontation between Allen and responding officers. A Secret Service agent was struck by a bullet that hit his protective vest, and the agent was transported to a hospital for evaluation. Allen was injured and taken into custody. No fatalities were reported. Secret Service personnel immediately moved Trump and other protected individuals away from the area while law enforcement officers secured the hotel. Guests and journalists were instructed to evacuate or shelter in designated locations. The dinner was canceled, bringing an abrupt end to what had been expected to be one of Washington’s most prominent annual political and media gatherings.