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Secret Service Foils Attack at White House Correspondents Dinner

Federal agents now treat the case as a lone-wolf probe with motive still under review.

Overview

  • A gunman tried to breach security at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents Dinner, and agents evacuated President Trump and other VIPs while one Secret Service officer survived a gunshot thanks to body armor.
  • Authorities identified the suspect as Cole Thomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, who was arrested at the scene and remains in federal custody.
  • Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Allen traveled by train from California via Chicago to Washington and checked into the Hilton as a guest before the attempted attack.
  • Investigators recovered a shotgun, a handgun, and several knives, and officials say the suspect fired a shotgun at a Secret Service agent while trying to push through a checkpoint.
  • Federal authorities are preparing court proceedings as they examine Allen’s motive, and the postponed dinner will be rescheduled within 30 days after security reviews.