Cole Tomas Allen, 31, is the suspect in the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. He legally acquired a Maverick 12-gauge shotgun in August 2025 and an Armscor semi-automatic pistol in October 2023. Reports indicate that Allen meticulously planned his attack over several months, traveling from California to Washington, D.C. via Amtrak. Prior to the incident, he sent a manifesto to family members, listing Trump administration officials as his targets, including Donald Trump. In the manifesto, he criticized the security at the Washington Hilton, where the dinner was held, claiming it was lax. Trump responded to the incident, labeling Allen as a 'pretty sick guy' and suggesting that the shooting could have been prevented with better security measures, referencing a new ballroom under construction at the White House that he claimed would be safer. Allen's sister revealed that he had stored his weapons at their parents' home without their knowledge.