Washington DC [US], April 27 (HBTV): A major security breach triggered panic at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday (local time), following a shooting incident at the Washington Hilton.
The incident occurred while US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and First Lady Melania Trump were in attendance, along with other senior officials.
According to CNN, a 31-year-old man identified as Cole Tomas Allen has emerged as the prime suspect. He allegedly stormed a security checkpoint at the venue, with suspected gunshots prompting an immediate response from law enforcement and the US Secret Service, who escorted the President and other officials to safety.
Citing sources familiar with the investigation, CNN reported that Allen’s actions caused chaos at the high-profile event. Public records indicate that he is a resident of Torrance, a suburb of Los Angeles, and had worked as a teacher and video game developer in Southern California.
A LinkedIn profile matching his identity described him as a part-time teacher at C2 Education, where he was recognised as 'teacher of the month' in December 2024.
The profile also indicated that Allen graduated from California Institute of Technology in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, and later obtained a master’s degree in computer science from California State University Dominguez Hills.
During his time at Caltech, he was featured in a 2017 local news report for developing a prototype emergency braking system for wheelchairs.
According to CNN, citing records from the Federal Election Commission, Allen donated USD 25 to the presidential campaign of Kamala Harris in October 2024.
Allen also described himself as a video game developer and appears to have released an independent game titled Bohrdom on the Steam platform. He had registered a trademark for the game's name in 2018, according to federal records.
On his LinkedIn profile, he stated that he was 'currently developing a second game' under the working title 'First Law'.
Following the incident, Interim Metropolitan Police Chief Jeffery Carroll said authorities have 'secured a room' linked to the suspect for investigation.
Carroll stated that the suspect was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives, and 'exchanged fire' with law enforcement officers before being taken into custody.
Officials said Allen was not struck by gunfire but was taken to a hospital for evaluation. An injured Secret Service agent was also hospitalised, according to Muriel Bowser.
US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro said the suspect will be produced in court on Monday and faces charges including use of a firearm during a crime of violence and assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.
Authorities believe the suspect acted alone, as reported by CNN. (ANI)