Authorities have identified a 31-year-old teacher and video game developer, Cole Tomas Allen, as the suspect in a shooting incident that disrupted the prestigious White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in Washington, D.C.
According to CNN, Allen, who resides in Torrance, a suburb of Los Angeles, was subdued by security operatives near the venue where Donald Trump and other top government officials had gathered.
Investigations revealed that Allen worked as a part-time tutor at C2 Education, where he was named “teacher of the month” in December 2024.
Records also show he earned a degree in mechanical engineering from California Institute of Technology in 2017 before obtaining a master’s in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills.
The suspect had previously gained attention in 2017 for designing a prototype emergency braking system for wheelchairs during his undergraduate years.
He also identified as a video game developer and reportedly released an independent game titled “Bohrdom” on the Steam platform, while working on another project.
Further checks indicated that Allen made a modest political donation to the campaign of Kamala Harris in October 2024, according to data from the Federal Election Commission.
Security sources disclosed that the suspect was armed with multiple weapons and breached a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton, where the high-profile dinner was being held.
The breach triggered panic at the event, prompting the swift evacuation of Trump, the First Lady, and several dignitaries.
During the incident, a Secret Service agent was hit by gunfire but survived after the bullet struck a protective vest.
Authorities said investigations are ongoing, with the motive behind the attack yet to be determined.