Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, rushed a security checkpoint outside the Washington Hilton on the evening of 25 April 2026 armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and knives. He opened fire within seconds of reaching the barrier. One Secret Service agent absorbed a round to the bulletproof vest and is expected to make a full recovery. Allen was wounded in the exchange with law enforcement and taken into federal custody before he could advance further toward the ballroom.
President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Cabinet secretaries, and dozens of members of Congress had already entered the building when gunfire erupted on Connecticut Avenue. All were evacuated without injury. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, speaking to reporters at the Department of Justice on 26 April, said preliminary findings indicate Allen intended to target administration officials. "The motive investigation remains active and ongoing," Blanche said, declining to elaborate further.
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