DC-Shooting at White House Correspondents Dinner, April 25, 2026

[Arkay]

dbm

Do we know that he booked the room on Friday night or did he make a reservation in advance, online maybe?

Thanks @Sundog , I should have phrased it more carefully in my post. I meant that I presumed he arranged in advance to book a room for that night, which clearly he did get to reserve and then utilize.

I remain astounded that the hotel and the Secret Service would allow ANYONE who’s not known to be part of the government, or a White House correspondent, to book ANY room on the SAME night as this annual dinner for the powerful and elite of D.C.

It would seem to be much safer to keep a sterile environment when no one unknown is permitted to be a hotel guest on the very same night the president and Cabinet are all there.

IMO this should be a requirement by the Secret Service.

The hotel is going to make a lot of money by being the venue for the WHCD. They surely can afford to keep some rooms unoccupied by persons not known, for just one night.

IMO

 

[crhedBngr]

Which makes him even more dangerous. In a panic he could have just started shooting and taken many lives, knowing that his was over. I do wonder where he got the firearms and when, and if he had been going to target practice somewhere. I assume that LE/FBI are looking into this. Also, were the family gun owners or just CA? Did his family members know he had firearms in the house?

If he took AmTrak, apparently, firearms are allowed as baggage.

I'd like to know where and how he got these as well.

ETA: I see @acutename provided the info. about the firearms.

Items Prohibited in Baggage Onboard Amtrak Trains

Following the "restrictions" link referenced in the "Firearms or ammunition" block above provided the following info.:

Special Items in Amtrak Baggage

 

[acutename]

"Allen’s sister spoke to Secret Service and Montgomery County, Md., police, saying her brother “had a tendency to make radical statements and his rhetoric constantly referenced a plan to do ‘something’ to fix the issues with today’s world,” according to the White House source, who was not authorized to speak publicly.

She also confirmed that Allen had purchased two handguns and a shotgun, storing them in their parents’ home without their parents’ knowledge."

Details emerge of alleged shooter at White House correspondents' dinner

The alleged gunman has been identified as Cole Allen, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

wamu.org

"Family members told investigators Allen would regularly go to the shooting range to train with his firearms."

What we know about the suspect in shooting at White House Correspondents' Dinner

The suspect was identified to CBS News by law enforcement sources as 31-year-old Cole Allen of Torrance, California.

www.cbsnews.com

He had one gun as of 2023 and purchased another 8/25. Legally.
This article has pictures (which I saw on TV) of him apprehended and on the floor. Did he start this without a shirt on or did they strip search him for weapons?

 

[Betty P]

LOL, I would be tempted to grab a bottle myself.

Such strange comments on that story. A few people were complaining about members of the press taking bottles of wine.

Well, this event was presented by the White House Corespondents Association. It’s an organization of members of the press who cover the White House. They pay dues and raise money to fund it. This was their annual dinner, they paid for it so it’s ok if they take the wine home. They own it.

 

[NoSpoonFeeding]

Sorry, when you said celebratory events it was in addition to international dinners. (Your post 193.) So it appeared that you were justifying the ballroom for celebratory events that aren't state events.

Citing events that happen at the White House isn't "justifying" anything. Too numerous to list all the celebratory events, dinners, balls, concerts, holiday parties, special anniversary, award ceremonies, etc, that that are put on by the White House and/or first families, some of which could be held in the new ballroom.
The word "state" is used for an event with a visiting head of state.
From AI
White House state dinners are elite, formal diplomatic events hosted by the President and First Lady to honor visiting heads of state or reigning monarchs, usually held in the State Dining Room. These events, which began in 1874

• Purpose: To honor foreign leaders, celebrate alliances, and promote diplomacy.

 

[Sundog]

Thanks @Sundog , I should have phrased it more carefully in my post. I meant that I presumed he arranged in advance to book a room for that night, which clearly he did get to reserve and then utilize.

I remain astounded that the hotel and the Secret Service would allow ANYONE who’s not known to be part of the government, or a White House correspondent, to book ANY room on the SAME night as this annual dinner for the powerful and elite of D.C.

It would seem to be much safer to keep a sterile environment when no one unknown is permitted to be a hotel guest on the very same night the president and Cabinet are all there.

IMO this should be a requirement by the Secret Service.

The hotel is going to make a lot of money by being the venue for the WHCD. They surely can afford to keep some rooms unoccupied by persons not known, for just one night.

IMO

I am curious about when he made the reservation, if he did, which as you mentioned, it is likely he had to book a room in advance. It would give us an idea of how long in advance he pre-planned the shooting. I am sure we will get all the details at some point but was just curious if anyone here read anything about that.

Also, it takes a while to travel from LA to Chicago to Washington, D.C. Did anyone in his family know why he was gone and where he had gone? Lots to learn from the family. Seems that at least one sister was aware that he was hiding firearms in the family home and keeping that information from the parents. I wonder if she was afraid of him and that's why she kept this information from the parents. Someone in the family must have an idea of when he went to target practice and moved the guns around, if he did.

ETA: I see that OP has posted upthread that family member knew that CA went to target practice with his firearms.

 

[NuttMegg]

Which makes him even more dangerous. In a panic he could have just started shooting and taken many lives, knowing that his was over. I do wonder where he got the firearms and when, and if he had been going to target practice somewhere. I assume that LE/FBI are looking into this. Also, were the family gun owners or just CA? Did his family members know he had firearms in the house?

Someone posted what the brother and sister said about that. But he was way over being a minor, I don't know how the parents could be blamed for guns in their house they didn't have control over or know about, if so. All on all it's very sad for the siblings, the family, a guy who worked so hard yet got lost in ridiculous plans and for the person he wounded and the thousands he scared. But it could have gone far worse.

 

[acutename]

Thanks @Sundog , I should have phrased it more carefully in my post. I meant that I presumed he arranged in advance to book a room for that night, which clearly he did get to reserve and then utilize.

I remain astounded that the hotel and the Secret Service would allow ANYONE who’s not known to be part of the government, or a White House correspondent, to book ANY room on the SAME night as this annual dinner for the powerful and elite of D.C.

It would seem to be much safer to keep a sterile environment when no one unknown is permitted to be a hotel guest on the very same night the president and Cabinet are all there.

IMO this should be a requirement by the Secret Service.

The hotel is going to make a lot of money by being the venue for the WHCD. They surely can afford to keep some rooms unoccupied by persons not known, for just one night.

IMO

It is a big hotel:

The Washington Hilton, located on Connecticut Avenue, features 1,107 rooms and suites. As one of the city's largest hotels, it is well-known for hosting major events, including the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, and is located near Dupont Circle. (Google AI)
____________________________________________________________________________________
Not sure how it is designed- if it has separate wings or entrances so a large area could be closed off to the general public.

 

[NoSpoonFeeding]

Betty P said:
Why was Trump sitting at the head table?

POTUS always sits at the head of the table.

I thought that too.

Not at this dinner. This is a dinner for the news media to relax, honor their peers and make jokes about their unusual jobs. Presidents don't always attend. That's why I posed that rhetorical question. It all seems poorly planned this year, to say the least. Very bizarre situation.

BBM in the quote

I can't understand where this entirely incorrect information came from. Presidents are expected to be there, more than not, and the dinner is for politicians and the media to get together. Is Trump the only President that didn't belong at the head table?

AI "The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner is an annual event established in 1921 to celebrate the First Amendment, foster communication between the media and the presidency,"

President Trump was sitting exactly where he should have been.
I looked at a number of photos of other presidents at the dinner, they always sat at the head table, where the podium is. Clinton went all 8 years, Obama missed only two.

Except for Donald Trump's first term, every president has attended at least one WHCA dinner during their term, beginning with Calvin Coolidge in 1924.​

Trump Will Be First President In 36 Years To Skip White House Correspondents' Dinner​

https://www.npr.org/2017/02/25/517257273/trump-will-be-first-president-in-36-years-to-skip-white-house-correspondents-din#:~:text=There%20have%20been%20plenty%20of,and%20the%20political%20news%20media.

 

[Ghostwheel]

Rsbm.
This article has pictures (which I saw on TV) of him apprehended and on the floor. Did he start this without a shirt on or did they strip search him for weapons?

If I read correctly, they did not shoot him, therefore brought him down by hand. I have seen before when struggling to free themselves, people wriggle out of their shirts to try and get free. It's possible that is the case here, but jmo.

 

[MarcG]

Also, it takes a while to travel from LA to Chicago to Washington, D.C. Did anyone in his family know why he was gone and where he had gone? Lots to learn from the family.

3 days/nights at least, depending on routes and connections:

• Amtrak Southwest Chief: LA to Chicago - 43 Hours (minimum) via Flagstaff, Albequerque, Kansas.
• Amtrak Capitol Limited: Chicago to Washington DC - 18 hours (or so) via PIttsburgh, Harpers Ferry.

$500 one way coach, over $2K one way private room.

 

[NoSpoonFeeding]

Such strange comments on that story. A few people were complaining about members of the press taking bottles of wine.

Well, this event was presented by the White House Corespondents Association. It’s an organization of members of the press who cover the White House. They pay dues and raise money to fund it. This was their annual dinner, they paid for it so it’s ok if they take the wine home. They own it.

We don't know if unopened bottles are returned for credit, are considered the property of the hotel until consummed, we don't know what the contract says for this event. We do know that the liquor law in DC says you can't take unopened bottles and partially empty bottles require a waiter to examine it and put it in a doggie bag.
Depending on level of membership, yearly dues are $90 to $140 (like for an editoral staff). Tickets for the dinner, $300, but most sit at a table purchased by their employer. I enjoyed the comments I read, some really clever and humorous, gave needed levity. Money from ticket sales, after expenses, is used for scholarships. I don't think they can claim they own it, the bottles of wine. It was meant to be used by everyone at the their table and unopened bottles can't be taken, by law. There could be some hands slapped over this.
"In Washington D.C., you cannot leave a restaurant with a completely unopened bottle of champagne or wine purchased from their on-premises stock. D.C. law specifically allows patrons to remove only partially consumed bottles of wine or champagne, which must be securely resealed, placed in a tamper-proof bag, and accompanied by a receipt. "

Council of the District of Columbia (.gov) +2

 

[airportwoman]

I believe it is the third attempt.

The third attempt that made it this far. Secret Service deals with things like this all the time, and usually intervene long before it comes to this.

 

[airportwoman]

This was kind of a circuitous way to get to DC.


"Blanche said Allen traveled from California to Chicago and then to the nation’s capital by train and checked in as a guest to the hotel."

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/neighbor-of-suspected-white-house-correspondents-dinner-shooter-says-his-parents-are-very-solid/

Not really, if he used Amtrak. There's a direct L.A. to Chicago route, and then he probably changed trains in Chicago and went to D.C.

 

[indicolite22]

Do we know that he booked the room on Friday night or did he make a reservation in advance, online maybe?

I remember reading yesterday that he made the reservation in early April. One of the sources:

He booked a hotel room at the Washington Hilton weeks in advance

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/04/26/whcd-shooting-suspect/

 

[Betty P]

It is a big hotel:

The Washington Hilton, located on Connecticut Avenue, features 1,107 rooms and suites. As one of the city's largest hotels, it is well-known for hosting major events, including the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, and is located near Dupont Circle. (Google AI)
____________________________________________________________________________________
Not sure how it is designed- if it has separate wings or entrances so a large area could be closed off to the general public.

It’s also up to the Secret Service to make the necessary arrangements to secure a location that any president wishes to visit. As with the last attempt, they’re in charge of setting up and controlling a secure perimeter. I suspect this incident, like the previous one, was plagued by last minute changes and poor planning.

 

[Betty P]

If I read correctly, they did not shoot him, therefore brought him down by hand. I have seen before when struggling to free themselves, people wriggle out of their shirts to try and get free. It's possible that is the case here, but jmo.

Security may have also been searching him thoroughly for any explosives he might have carried.

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2048666676594463163

https://twitter.com/x/status/2048636267168940289

 

[IceIce9]

It doesn’t seem wise to have so many members in the line of succession in the same place at the same time.


What if he had a bomb?

JMO

 

[Gemmie]

It doesn’t seem wise to have so many members in the line of succession in the same place at the same time.

JMO

% in agreement. I've worked for several very large corporations over the years and they all had a rule that if all the high-ups needed to travel to attend something important... they were NOT all to take the same flights in the event a plane went down. And it's not like they were in the same sort of business to have that rule. They ran from financial to high tech. They didn't want to risk all the upper management, CEOs, CFOs, COOs, etc., to all be lost at the same time. And that's just the running of a company... not the entire country.

And in this day of Zoom? The line of succession and other cabinet members could have all attended from the safety of their homes via Zoom on a huge screen. JMO!