Authorities have identified the suspect arrested in connection with Saturday’s shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old resident of Torrance, California.
The incident, which occurred at the Washington Hilton, has heightened security concerns around former United States President, Donald Trump, who was among top dignitaries present at the event.
A law enforcement official confirmed Allen’s identity, describing him as a Los Angeles-area resident whose social media profiles suggest he is a graduate of the California Institute of Technology, as well as a part-time teacher and independent game developer.
District of Columbia Police authorities said preliminary investigations indicate that Allen had been staying as a guest at the Washington Hilton, the venue hosting the annual dinner. However, officials noted that no clear motive has yet been established.
Public records and online postings portray Allen as an academically accomplished individual with a background in engineering and computer science. A Facebook post showed he was named Teacher of the Month in December 2024 by the Torrance branch of C2 Education, a nationwide tutoring service.
A LinkedIn profile bearing his name describes him as “a mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, independent game developer by experience, teacher by birth.”
According to the profile, Allen earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in 2017 and later obtained a master’s degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills in 2025. The California Institute of Technology has confirmed that a graduate with that name completed studies in 2017.
His professional experience includes working for several years as a part-time instructor with C2 Education, alongside his role as a self-employed game developer. He was also previously employed as a mechanical engineer at IJK Controls in South Pasadena and served as a teaching assistant during his time at Caltech.
Further details from his profile indicate that he participated in a robotics competition at Caltech in 2016, where his team received recognition.
According to the United States Secret Service, Allen was armed with a short gun and opened fire at an agent near the ballroom entrance of the Washington Hilton while the dinner was ongoing.
At the time of the incident, Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and several cabinet members were in attendance.
Allen was subdued and taken into custody shortly after the shooting.
Authorities said investigations are ongoing, with efforts focused on determining the motive behind the attack and whether the suspect acted alone.
