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President Trump and several Cabinet officials were quickly escorted out of the room by Secret Service agents as the situation unfolded.
CNN’s Wolf Blitzer was among those who witnessed the incident. He was positioned outside the ballroom when he saw a gunman firing just a few feet away. As law enforcement rushed in, he and many others nearby immediately sought cover.
During the response, a U.S. Secret Service agent was struck by gunfire, despite wearing protective gear. President Trump later stated that he had personally spoken with the agent, who had been taken to the hospital, and confirmed that the agent was in “great shape,” crediting the bulletproof vest for preventing serious injury.
According to DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, no other individuals were harmed.
At 9:17 p.m., President Trump issued his first public statement on Truth Social, announcing that the suspected gunman had been apprehended. Later, at 10:29 p.m., he shared an image showing the suspect lying face down on the ground with hands restrained behind his back, along with video footage that appeared to capture the early moments of the shooting.
By around 10:50 p.m., U.S. media outlets, including CBS, had identified the suspect.
An image showing law enforcement detaining the suspect during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night was also posted by the president on social media.
At approximately 10:30 p.m., a formal press conference was held at the White House, attended by the president, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche. During the briefing, the suspect was described as appearing to be a “lone wolf.”
Shortly after 11:10 p.m., live coverage began showing FBI agents gathering outside a home in Torrance, a suburb of Los Angeles, believed to be connected to the suspect, identified as Allen. As media crews and law enforcement arrived in large numbers, authorities established a security perimeter around the property.
A neighbor, who chose to remain anonymous, told CNN that he was unsure whether Allen actually lived at the residence. He noted that he did not see him regularly but had observed him visiting just a few days earlier. The neighbor also mentioned that Allen’s father is friendly and talkative, and that they speak often.
Formal charges were later announced by U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro. These charges include assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon, as well as using a firearm during a violent crime.
Allen is scheduled to appear in federal court for arraignment on Monday.
Questions quickly arose about who Allen is.
Public records and a LinkedIn profile indicate that he worked part-time as an instructor at C2 Education, a tutoring and test preparation company, where he was recognized as “Teacher of the Month” in December 2024. He has also been identified as a video game developer based in Southern California.
Academically, Allen has a strong background. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 2017 and completed a master’s degree in computer science at California State University–Dominguez Hills just a year ago.
During a press conference, Jeffrey Carroll, interim chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, stated that Allen had approached a Secret Service checkpoint and “charged” toward it, leading to an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement officers. He was reportedly armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives.
Based on preliminary findings, authorities believe that Allen fired at least one shot.
Carroll also revealed that Allen is believed to have been a registered guest at the Washington Hilton, suggesting that he may have had authorized access to the event prior to the incident. Law enforcement has since secured a room at the hotel as part of the investigation.
Following the confrontation, Allen was taken to a hospital for evaluation and treatment. Officials confirmed that he was not wounded by gunfire during the incident.
Mayor Bowser stated that there is currently no indication that anyone else was involved.
FBI Director Kash Patel said that investigators will conduct a thorough review of Allen’s background and urged the public to come forward with any information that could assist the investigation.
Authorities are actively interviewing witnesses and examining ballistic evidence, including a long gun recovered at the scene.
Another detail that drew attention is that, according to Federal Election Commission records, Allen donated $25 to Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign in October 2024. While officials cautioned against making assumptions, the information quickly led to public speculation regarding possible motives.
When asked whether political violence is a concern, President Trump responded directly, saying that while he is concerned, he cannot be overly worried because being president is “a dangerous profession.”
He also remarked that the incident, in a way, “unified” those present.
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner will be rescheduled. The president stated that the next event will be significantly safer, with security measures expected to be stronger than ever before in Washington.
