Authorities have identified the man accused of opening fire during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from Torrance, California.
According to multiple reports, Allen was taken into custody after allegedly injuring a Secret Service agent. Officials say he faces charges related to using a firearm during a violent crime and assaulting federal officers.
Information from a LinkedIn profile matching his name and photo describes him as having a background in mechanical engineering and computer science, as well as experience as an independent game developer and part-time teacher. He reportedly earned a mechanical engineering degree from California Institute of Technology in 2017 and later completed a master’s in computer science at California State University, Dominguez Hills in 2025.
Allen was also said to have worked with C2 Education, where he had previously been recognized for his teaching.
The incident unfolded at the Washington Hilton while Donald Trump and other officials were attending the event. Witnesses reported hearing loud bangs, prompting guests to take cover as security quickly intervened.
Secret Service agents and law enforcement officers subdued the suspect near a security checkpoint and evacuated attendees, including Trump, members of the Cabinet, and other prominent figures such as Melania Trump and JD Vance.
Trump later stated that authorities acted swiftly and effectively, and confirmed that all key officials were unharmed. The event was ultimately disrupted, with plans to reschedule.
Further details about the motive or full circumstances were not immediately available.
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