The man suspected of opening fire at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old teacher and video game developer from Southern California, according to CNN.
Allen, who lives in Torrance, a suburb of Los Angeles, was named by law enforcement sources as the armed suspect subdued near the venue where US President Donald Trump and other top officials were gathered.
Public records show that he worked as a part-time instructor at C2 Education, a test preparation and tutoring company, where he was recognised as “teacher of the month” in December 2024.
His LinkedIn profile indicates that he graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and later obtained a master’s degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills.
While still a student, Allen was featured in a 2017 local news report for developing a prototype emergency brake for wheelchairs.
He also described himself as a video game developer and is believed to have released an independent game titled Bohrdom on the Steam platform. Records show he registered a trademark for the game in 2018 and had been working on another project with the provisional title First Law.
Data from the Federal Election Commission indicate that Allen made a $25 donation to Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign in October 2024.
Authorities said the suspect was armed with multiple weapons and was apprehended after breaching a security checkpoint at the event, held at the Washington Hilton.
The shooting caused panic at the high-profile gathering, prompting the evacuation of the president, the first lady and other dignitaries. One Secret Service agent was struck by gunfire but survived after the bullet hit a protective vest.
Investigations are ongoing, and officials have yet to determine the motive behind the attack.
