The alleged shooter, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of California, was arrested after exchanging gunfire near the Washington Hilton during events tied to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. A Secret Service officer was struck in the chest but survived thanks to a bulletproof vest. Sources questioned how the suspect could have passed magnetometers while armed, and a purported manifesto circulated before the attack criticized event security and named the Trump administration as a target. Authorities continue to investigate and review security procedures.
Secret Service Fumes Over Security Lapse After Correspondents’ Dinner Shooting
MS NOW’s Carol Leonnig spoke to Secret Service agents who questioned how an armed gunman was able to get so close to the WHCA dinner. / MSNBC
Secret Service personnel and other law-enforcement sources expressed shock and frustration after a shooting near the Washington Hilton during events tied to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Sources told MS NOW reporter Carol Leonnig that the alleged gunman appeared able to bypass security checkpoints while armed, prompting urgent questions about how the breach occurred.
What Happened
Authorities identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of California. According to sources at the scene, Allen reportedly made it past magnetometers while carrying weapons and later exchanged gunfire with officers outside the hotel. Police subdued and arrested Allen; he is expected to face federal charges including using a firearm during a crime of violence and assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.
Shooting suspect Cole Tomas Allen was heavily armed, yet managed to make it past metal detectors. / C2 Education/Facebook
Officer Injured But Protected
One uniformed Secret Service officer was struck in the chest during the exchange of gunfire but was protected by a bulletproof vest, officials later confirmed. Sources described the struck officer as part of the uniformed division that often secures outer perimeters and magnetometer checkpoints.
Sources Question Security
Let me just be clear. They're not in the security detail. They're not on the counter-assault team that appeared to interact with this guy. They're not with the uniformed division that are working the magnetometers,
Leonnig quoted sources who added:
But there are people one layer outside who say the following: 'How in the world did someone get past the magnetometer? Whether they were running or whatever they were doing. How could that happen?'
Despite Secret Service insiders questioning the breach, Donald Trump has maintained that their work was 'outstanding.' / Nathan Howard / Getty Images
Alleged Manifesto
According to published reports, Allen reportedly sent a manifesto to family members roughly ten minutes before the shooting. Copies of that document published by The New York Post say the author named members of the Trump administration as a target and criticized the event's security, describing his own travel and hotel check-in as encountering 'no damn security.' The manifesto's contents remain subject to verification by investigators and law enforcement.
Official Reaction
Despite the questions raised by field agents and the suspect's own comments, the president publicly praised the law-enforcement response. On Fox News' Sunday Briefing, he said: 'The Secret Service and all law enforcement was, I thought they were outstanding, you know? You can always nitpick and everything else, but they were outstanding.'
Ongoing Investigation
The Secret Service and other federal authorities are reviewing the security procedures and the sequence of events. Investigators are working to confirm the timeline, assess any lapses, and determine how the suspect passed checkpoints while apparently armed.
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