THE smirking mugshot of the suspected Washington gunman has been revealed following the high-security scare targeting Trump administration officials.
Cole Tomas Allen, 31, appears to have a slight grin in the stark government-issued photo obtained by Jattvibe News as the investigation intensifies.
Sign up for The Jattvibe newsletter
Thank you!
The government picture of Cole Allen obtained by Jattvibe News Credit: Unknown
The suspected gunman is accused of lying in wait before launching a calculated attack feared to be targeting the president
A handcuffed Allen seen on the ground surrounded by agents
Allen is accused of lying in wait before carrying out a calculated approach to the venue hosting a high-profile black-tie gala.
He allegedly moved toward a security checkpoint armed with a shotgun, handgun and knives.
Inside, President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance were among senior officials and journalists gathered for the event.
The incident unfolded just outside the packed ballroom, triggering an immediate response from Secret Service agents.
One agent was shot during the confrontation and rushed to hospital.
The agent has since been released, while no other injuries were reported.
Allen, who is a CalTech-educated teacher from Torrance, California, is due to be arraigned tomorrow in federal court, where he will face the next stage of proceedings.
Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche said he believes the suspect is not cooperating with investigators.
He remains in custody and is facing multiple charges.
Saturday night’s White House Correspondent’s Dinner had drawn more than 200 guests into the ballroom of the Washington Hilton.
Donald Trump, seated beside wife Melania, was poised to deliver his keynote speech at the 2026 event – his first-ever appearance at the annual gathering.
But before he could even begin, the sharp crack of gunfire shattered the evening.
Guests were left stunned as panic rippled through the packed ballroom, with the violence erupting just beyond the doors.
As chaos erupted, Secret Service agents rushed President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance to safety, while guests dived under tables in panic.
The suspect seen running past Secret Service agents during the shooting
Attendees threw themselves onto the ground and behind chairs when gunshots rang out
Inside the ballroom, terrified attendees were heard screaming: “get down, get down!” as armed officers flooded the venue.
In the frantic moments that followed, the suspected gunman allegedly engaged in a shootout with Secret Service agents in the hotel lobby before being swiftly arrested.
Moments before the attack unfolded, the gunman was allegedly seen “assembling a long weapon in an unsecured room,” according to a volunteer who spoke to The Post.
Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn said Allen attempted to trigger a “national tragedy” but was stopped almost immediately.
He said the suspect “underestimated the protective capabilities of the U.S. Secret Service, and was stopped at first contact.
“The strength of our layered security posture was evident, with a myriad of countermeasures ahead.”
Authorities confirmed a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives were recovered when Allen was arrested and removed from the hotel, later transported in the back of an ambulance.
Officials say he had legally purchased two handguns and a shotgun from Cap Tactical Firearms, storing them at his parents’ home before allegedly carrying out his plan.
Federal agents launched an urgent raid on Allen’s home – while, inside, Trump pressed on, delivering a defiant and composed address despite what marked the third direct threat on his life in recent years.
Agents continue to search the property as inquiries persist.
Investigators later uncovered a chilling trail of messages allegedly sent just minutes before the attack.
Around 10 minutes before the shooting, Allen is said to have sent family members a disturbing anti-Trump manifesto, referring to himself as the “Friendly Federal Assassin,” according to reports cited by US officials.
Further searches revealed more alleged writings in his hotel room, alongside a string of inflammatory posts on social media laced with anti-Trump and anti-Christian outbursts.
Speaking the following day, Trump branded the would-be attacker a “sick guy” after reviewing the contents of the manifesto, adding: “He hates Christians… he was a very troubled guy.”
At a press conference, the President also labelled him as a “lone wolf whack job” from California.
FBI agents at a home associated with the suspected gunmanCredit: ap
FBI tactical agents in Torrance, California
Authorities say alarm bells had already been ringing within Allen’s own family.
Relatives reportedly contacted law enforcement prior to the shooting, warning of increasingly extreme views and erratic behaviour.
His sister allegedly told investigators he had made repeated radical statements and often spoke about plans to “do something” to fix society’s problems – while regularly visiting a shooting range.
His brother is said to have handed over the manifesto to police, in which Allen launched into a furious and rambling justification for violence.
In the document, he allegedly outlined a targeted attack on administration officials, describing them as priorities “from highest-ranking to lowest.”
He chillingly claimed he had chosen buckshot ammunition to “minimize casualties,” while admitting he would go through others if “absolutely necessary.”
The writings also revealed an apparent fixation on the event itself, with Allen allegedly boasting about what he described as shockingly lax security at the historic venue.
He reportedly claimed he was able to enter the hotel armed without raising suspicion, calling the situation “insane” and warning that attackers could have slipped through unnoticed.
The Washington Hilton – which has hosted the dinner for decades and was the site of the 1981 assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan – was singled out in his alleged notes.
Donald Trump told Fox News that he hopes the dinner can be rescheduled “within a short period of time, whether it’s 30 days or a little less, or a little more.”
Weijia Jiang, president of the association, said it was a “harrowing moment for everyone in attendance”.
“Our dinner exists to celebrate the First Amendment and the hard daily work of the journalists who defend it,” she said in a statement.
“Last night, those journalists showed exactly the kind of calm and courage that work demands, jumping into reporting immediately after the incident unfolded. We are proud of everyone in that room.”
Allen, who was previously recognised as teacher of the month, also described himself as a “mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, independent game developer by experience, teacher by birth.”
His professional profile states he graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 2017 with a degree in mechanical engineering.also
It also claims he went on to complete a master’s degree in computer science at California State University–Dominguez Hills last year.
Trump and Melania at the start of the dinner
The moment Trump was escorted away by officers as the shooting started
