Authorities have identified the man accused of opening fire near the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in Washington, D.C., 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 suspect apprehended close to the venue where U.S. President Donald Trump and other top officials had gathered.
Records show that Allen worked part-time at C2 Education, a tutoring and test preparation company, where he was reportedly named “teacher of the month” in December 2024.
His professional profile indicates he earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in 2017, before obtaining a master’s degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills.
During his time as a student, Allen gained attention in a 2017 local news report for creating a prototype emergency braking system for wheelchairs.
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He also described himself as a video game developer and is believed to have released an independent title, Bohrdom, on the Steam platform. Records further suggest he registered a trademark for the game in 2018 and was working on another project tentatively titled “First Law.”
Data from the Federal Election Commission shows that Allen made a $25 donation to the presidential campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris in October 2024.
Security officials said the suspect was carrying multiple weapons and was arrested after breaching a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton, where the high-profile event was held.
The incident triggered panic and led to the evacuation of the president, the first lady, and other guests in attendance.
A Secret Service agent was injured during the incident but survived after the bullet struck a protective vest.
Investigations are still ongoing as authorities work to establish the motive behind the attack.