The man suspected of opening fire near 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 subdued by law enforcement near the venue where President Donald Trump and other senior officials were attending the annual event.
Public records show Allen worked part time at C2 Education, a test preparation and tutoring company, where he was named “teacher of the month” in December 2024. His LinkedIn profile says he 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.
As 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 developing a second project with the working title “First Law.”
Federal Election Commission data indicate Allen made a $25 donation in October 2024 to the presidential campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris.
Authorities said Allen was armed with multiple weapons and was apprehended after breaching a security checkpoint at the event, held at the Washington Hilton.
The incident caused panic at the high-profile gathering, prompting the evacuation of Trump, the first lady and other dignitaries. A United States Secret Service agent was struck by gunfire but survived after the bullet hit a protective vest.
Officials said the investigation is ongoing and a motive has not been determined.
