Torrance man arrested in White House Correspondents’ Dinner attack due in court

A 31-year-old Torrance man arrested in a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner over the weekend at a Washington, D.C. hotel attended by President Trump, high-ranking administration officials and journalists is expected to appear Monday in federal court.

Cole Thomas Allen remains in federal custody following his arrest at the Washington Hilton after the Saturday attack, part of which was captured on security camera video. The video showed a man rushing past a security checkpoint inside the hotel, where authorities said Allen was a registered guest.

He was subdued near the ballroom, where President Trump, Vice President Vance and others were rushed to safety by U.S. Secret Service agents.

A federal law enforcement official told NBC News that charges had not bee filed, but that was expected to happen later Monday.

Federal authorities were in the Torrance neighborhood where Allen lived over the weekend. Neighbors said they were asked questions about Allen, who attended Pacific Lutheran High School in Gardena before the prestigious California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

Homeland security expert Dr. Erroll Suthers shares his reaction to the apparent lack of security measures surrounding the shooting during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. This video was broadcast during the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 26, 2026.

The FBI confirmed that a search warrant was served in the South Bay community.

Allen was armed with a shotgun, handgun and knives when he ran toward the packed ballroom. He exchanged gunfire with law enforcement authorities and was tackled to the ground.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said on “Meet the Press” that authorities believe Allen traveled from Los Angeles to Chicago by train, then to Washington, D.C.

Moments before the attack, Allen sent family members a note with an apology to his parents, colleagues, students, bystanders and others for what he was about to do, according to a transcript of some of Allen’s writings provided to NBC News by a senior administration official.

“I don’t expect forgiveness,” Allen wrote. “Again, my sincere apologies.”

How could the suspect’s ties to Southern California be used in court and the investigation? Eric Leonard reports for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 26, 2026.

The note was critical of President Trump without mentioning him by name. He also wrote about security at the hotel, outside of which President Reagan was shot in 1981.

A senior administration official confirmed Allen’s brother contacted a police department in Connecticut about the note.

Allen graduated from the Caltech in 2017, according to his LinkedIn profile. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. The school confirmed it had a record of a student named Cole Allen who graduated in 2017.

After graduating from Caltech, Allen worked as a mechanical engineer for a year before becoming an independent video game developer and working part-time at C2 Education, a company that helps high school students enter college, according to the LinkedIn profile.

“We were shocked to hear the news of the horrifying incident that transpired at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner,” C2 Education said in a statement. “We are cooperating fully with law enforcement to assist them in their investigation. Violence of any kind is never the answer.”

In May 2025, Allen obtained a master’s degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills, according the LinkedIn profile. In a statement, Cal State Dominguez Hills said it had a student by the same name who graduated from the school in 2025, but could not confirm he was the suspect in Saturday’s shooting.

“Such acts betray our values as a university and our commitment to fostering a safe environment for our campus communities,” the school said said.