The 31-year-old man accused of opening fire at the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner in Washington, D.C., on Saturday night, wounding a Secret Service agent, will be arraigned in federal court on Monday, April 27, 2026 .
The Suspect and the Charges
The suspect has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, a resident of Torrance, California, and a graduate of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) . According to United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, Allen faces two federal charges: assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon and using a firearm during a crime of violence, which carries a minimum sentence of 10 years . He was also reportedly armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives .
The Incident
The gunman rushed a security checkpoint just outside the Washington Hilton ballroom where President Donald Trump was seated. As he breached the perimeter, undercover agents opened fire, striking Allen . A uniformed Secret Service agent was also shot during the exchange but was saved by a bulletproof vest and is hospitalized in good condition .
Although Allen was staying at the hotel, it remains unclear how he bypassed initial screening . Witnesses reported hearing 5-8 shots around 8:30 p.m., sending hundreds of guests diving under tables before Secret Service agents evacuated Trump and his Cabinet.
President Trump, who later described the suspect as a “lone wolf” with multiple weapons, has called for the dinner to be rescheduled within the next month .
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