White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting: Timeline traces how suspect’s alleged cross-country plan unfolded

The White House Correspondents’ Dinner rapidly devolved into chaos Saturday arsenic shots rang retired wrong the Washington, D.C., edifice hosting the yearly gala portion President Donald Trump was successful attendance. 

The fishy has been identified arsenic Cole Allen, 31, of Torrance, Calif., with instrumentality enforcement adding that helium prepared a manifesto and shared posts to societal media outlining his intent to people Trump and different medication officials, according to authorities. 

Allen’s sister, Avriana Allen, told Secret Service and Montgomery County Police that her member had a past of making extremist statements and antecedently mentioned a program to bash "something" to hole what helium believed to beryllium issues with today’s society, authorities said. 

WHCD SHOOTING SUSPECT PLANNED TO TARGET TRUMP OFFICIALS, MANIFESTO REVEALS

Law enforcement officers detain Cole Allen pursuing an alleged shooting astatine the White House Correspondents’ Dinner successful Washington, D.C., connected April 25, 2026. (@realDonaldTrump via Truth Social)

Allen allegedly stormed the Washington Hilton’s lobby portion equipped with weapons wrong minutes of the lawsuit kicking off, and was rapidly apprehended by members of the Secret Service.

He is presently successful custody and authorities are expected to record national charges against him Monday. 

White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller helps his woman Katie Miller aft an incidental astatine the White House Correspondents Association Dinner successful Washington, D.C., connected April 25, 2026. President Donald Trump and different officials were evacuated from the Washington Hilton pursuing reports of gunfire. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Here is simply a timeline of events starring up to the shooting: 

October 2023: 

Allen legally purchases a .38-caliber semiautomatic pistol, according to the Associated Press. He purchased a 12-gauge shotgun 2 years later. 

WATCH: Suspect went from 'nerdy geek' to attempted attacker: Asra Nomani

His sister told authorities the weapons were purchased from Cap Tactical Firearms and stored successful their parents’ home, who were unaware of the guns being kept there.

WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' DINNER SUSPECT CHECKED INTO HILTON HOTEL ONE DAY BEFORE THE SHOOTING: SOURCES

Security officials hunt for menace arsenic shots fired astatine correspondents' dinner. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

She besides revealed her member was a regular visitant to the shooting range, was a subordinate of a radical called "The Wide Awakes" and had antecedently attended a "No Kings" protestation successful California. 

President Donald Trump gestures arsenic helium speaks successful the James Brady Press Briefing Room astatine the White House aft a gunman opened occurrence astatine the yearly White House Correspondents' Association Dinner successful Washington, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

Mid-April 2026: 

Allen allegedly travels by bid from California to Washington, D.C., making 1 halt successful Chicago, according to authorities. 

Attendees duck nether tables during the White House Correspondents' Dinner. (Jessica Koscielniak/Reuters)

Friday, April 24

Allen checks into the Washington Hilton 1 time earlier the April 25 gala dinner, sources told Fox News.

Armed Secret Service agents basal connected signifier during a shooting incidental astatine the yearly White House Correspondents Association Dinner astatine the Washington Hilton successful Washington, D.C., connected April 25, 2026. President Donald Trump and different authorities officials were evacuated aft a gunman opened fire. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Saturday, April 25, 8 p.m.

The 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner begins, with Trump taking his spot alongside Vice President J.D. Vance and archetypal woman Melania Trump. Several different medication officials, including FBI Director Kash Patel and House Speaker Mike Johnson, are besides successful attendance. 

WATCH: Trey Yingst reports unrecorded from WHCD during shooting

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Before the shooting, Allen allegedly sends a written manifesto outlining his intent to people Trump medication officials to members of his family, according to instrumentality enforcement sources. 

A diagram illustrating the layout of the Washington Hilton’s planetary terrace level, wherever a gunman moved done the hotel. (Washington Hilton Floor Plan/TruthSocial/Amanda Macias/Fox News Digital)

Saturday, April 25, 8:30 p.m.

Shots ringing retired connected the hotel’s terrace level, 1 level beneath the edifice lobby and 1 level supra the International Ballroom, wherever hundreds of journalists and furniture officials were enjoying the commencement of the program. 

Media and onlookers stitchery successful beforehand of a location connected to Cole Tomas Allen, the shooting fishy astatine the White House Correspondents' Dinner, successful Torrance, Calif., connected April 25, 2026. (Robbin Goddard / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

According to authorities, Allen charged done a information checkpoint successful the hotel’s lobby country equipped with firearms and knives, striking 1 serviceman successful his ballistic vest.

Cole Allen successful a graduation gown taken connected an chartless date.  (Cole Allen/LinkedIn)

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Allen is intercepted by members of the Secret Service arsenic they instrumentality occurrence and tackle him to the ground. 

Within seconds, Trump and different high-level members of the national authorities are rushed to information by the Secret Service, arsenic journalists and different attendees instrumentality structure nether tables successful the ballroom.

Sen. Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and First Lady Melania Trump clasp a quality league successful the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room astatine the White House successful Washington, D.C., connected April 25, 2026, aft President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance were evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Association meal pursuing a information incident. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images)

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The serviceman who was struck is aboriginal transported to a section infirmary and is expected to survive.

Law enforcement officials artifact disconnected a thoroughfare astatine an code connected to Cole Tomas Allen, the shooting fishy astatine the White House Correspondents Dinner connected Saturday, April 25, 2026, successful Torrance, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

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Saturday, April 25, 9:17 p.m.

Trump makes his archetypal comments aft the shooting connected Truth Social, commending officers for acting "quickly and bravely." Trump besides added that "the shooter has been apprehended," and that helium had recommended the lawsuit resume.

WATCH: WHCD shooting appears to beryllium 3rd incidental targeting Trump

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Saturday, April 25, 9:36 p.m.

Trump makes a 2nd station to Truth Social, revealing that instrumentality enforcement had asked attendees to evacuate the building, arsenic was accordant with protocol. 

Saturday, April 25, 10:49 p.m.

After the shooting, Allen’s member contacts the New London Police Department successful Connecticut regarding his alleged manifesto. 

Members of instrumentality enforcement power shooting fishy Cole Tomas Allen during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, successful Washington.  (Alex Brandon / AP)

The constabulary said successful a connection they were contacted astatine 10:49 p.m. but idiosyncratic who wanted to stock accusation related to it, and the section said it past instantly alerted national instrumentality enforcement, the Associated Press reported.

Sunday, April 26

Allen initially speaks with constabulary earlier refusing to speech arsenic of Sunday morning, according to authorities.

Authorities execute hunt warrants Sunday successful Los Angeles and Washington, including astatine a edifice country wherever the fishy was staying, Blanche said. Investigators reappraisal devices and communications recovered during the searches.

President Trump delivered remarks pursuing an incidental astatine The White House Correspondents' Dinner connected Saturday, April 25, 2026. (Fox News)

Blanche added that it appears Allen bought the guns successful "the past mates of years."

"That could beryllium different crushed wherefore helium traveled by bid due to the fact that helium had the firearms with him, but I’m speculating there," helium said.

Fox News Digital's Anders Hagstrom, Amanda Macias and CJ Womack contributed to this report.