Third Assassination Attempt on President Trump
- Rex Ballard
- Apr 27
- 3 min read
California Man Opens Fire at White House Correspondents’ Dinner
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Another violent attack aimed at President Donald J. Trump was stopped in its tracks Saturday night when a 31-year-old California teacher and Caltech graduate allegedly stormed a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner and opened fire.
The incident occurred around 8:30–8:34 p.m. EDT on April 25, 2026, at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, cabinet members, and hundreds of journalists and guests were in the ballroom when the chaos erupted. Secret Service agents and law enforcement responded within seconds, exchanging gunfire with the suspect and taking him into custody on the spot. One Secret Service officer was hit but saved by his bulletproof vest and is expected to make a full recovery. No other injuries were reported. Trump and the VIPs were quickly evacuated and unharmed.
Images - Various sources noted on each photo
Authorities have identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California. He faces federal charges, including attempted assassination of the president, assault on federal officers, and firearms violations.
Images - CBSnews.com
Who Is Cole Tomas Allen?
Allen grew up in Southern California and had an impressive academic and professional background with zero prior criminal record.
Education: Graduated from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 2017 with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Earned a Master’s degree in Computer Science from California State University, Dominguez Hills in 2025.
Career: Worked as a part-time teacher and tutor at C2 Education in Torrance, where he was named “Teacher of the Month” in December 2024. He previously held a mechanical engineering job at IJK Controls and interned at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He also described himself as an independent video game developer.
Personal details: Registered to vote in California with no party preference. He made a small $25 donation to the Kamala Harris campaign in 2024 via ActBlue.
Neighbors and former classmates described him as quiet, intelligent, and “super stable” until recent years, when family members noticed increasingly radical statements.
Ties to Progressive Activism
Allen’s sister told investigators he was involved with “The Wide Awakes,” a loose national network of left-leaning activists focused on social justice, voting rights, theatrical protests, and causes such as immigrant rights and opposition to mass incarceration. She said he had attended a “No Kings” anti-Trump protest in California and often talked about the need to “do something drastic” to fix the country’s problems.
The group has publicly distanced itself from Allen’s actions and says he had no formal role in organized events. Federal investigators say he acted completely alone with no accomplices or direct ties to militant organizations.
The Manifesto: “Friendly Federal Assassin”
In messages sent to family members just minutes before the attack — and additional writings found in his hotel room — Allen called himself the “Friendly Federal Assassin.” He expressed “rage” over Trump administration policies and said he could no longer accept them. He listed targets ranging from “highest-ranking to lowest” officials and apologized to his family and anyone not directly involved.
He had traveled cross-country (reportedly by train) and checked into the Washington Hilton as a guest, using that status to bypass some screening with a shotgun, handgun, and knives.
Videos:
This video courtesy of C-SPAN at the time the shooting occured. Gunshots can be heard in the backgroud and soon thereafter Secret Service come to the President and First Lady
Raw CCTV footage of the suspect rushing the security checkpoint (shared directly by President Trump): Search Truth Social or see embedded versions in major coverage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igayBfEW5cs
This is now the third major security incident involving President Trump since the 2024 election cycle. The FBI and Secret Service investigation is ongoing, and more details — including full charging documents — are expected in the coming days.
Shasta Unfiltered will keep Northern California readers updated with straight facts as this story develops. No spin. Just the truth.
What do you think? Should high-profile political events have even tighter security, or is the problem deeper in our political climate? Sound off - drop us an email at contact@shastaunfiltered.com.
