April 27, 2026
A 31-year-old man suspected of opening fire near the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC, is expected to be arraigned Monday on federal charges, authorities said.
The suspect, a teacher and engineer who traveled from California, faces preliminary counts that include using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said. A Secret Service officer was wounded in an exchange of gunfire with the alleged shooter and is recovering.
The high-profile gala — attended by President Donald Trump, the first lady and other senior officials — was disrupted Saturday night when guests ducked under tables amid loud bangs later confirmed as gunshots. Trump was rushed off the stage; he and other guests were unharmed.
Media outlets have identified the suspect as Cole A., though DW follows the German Press Code and withholds full names of crime suspects and victims. CBS News reported the suspect emailed an alleged manifesto to his family minutes before the attack; investigators have not established a clear motive.
In an interview recorded Sunday at the White House, President Trump criticized CBS correspondent Norah O’Donnell after she read portions of the alleged manifesto on air. He denounced the coverage as “disgraceful,” denied the accusations quoted in the text, and objected to the reporter reading the shooter’s alleged words on “60 Minutes.”
The incident prompted a security review of an upcoming state visit by Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Buckingham Palace said the king was “greatly relieved” that the president, first lady and guests were unharmed, and the palace confirmed the four-day visit to Washington and other events will go ahead as planned.
Separately, tech figures Elon Musk and Sam Altman are scheduled to appear in court Monday in a dispute over OpenAI’s direction and whether it has strayed from its founding commitment to prioritize public benefit over profit. The case underscores ongoing tensions in the fast-evolving artificial intelligence industry.
DW continues to follow developments related to the shooting, the suspect’s court appearance and related national security and political implications.