Profile of Cole Thomas Allen: Suspect in White House Correspondents' Dinner Shooting
A 31-year-old man named Cole Thomas Allen has been apprehended for shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Allen, a software developer and former NASA fellow from California, allegedly fired at a security officer at the Washington Hilton Hotel. Authorities are now probing the motive behind the incident.
The suspect involved in the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner has been identified as Cole Thomas Allen, a 31-year-old resident of Torrance, California. Allen works as a tutor and software developer. Following the shooting, security agencies are conducting a thorough investigation into his background and the reason for the attack.
During the White House Correspondents' Dinner, Cole Allen fired at a security officer at close range, but the officer's life was saved by a bulletproof vest. President Donald Trump confirmed that the suspect was armed with multiple weapons and has been taken into custody. Allen is expected to face formal charges on Monday. The Secret Service swiftly apprehended him as he attempted to flee the scene.
Cole Allen graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 2017 and later earned a Master’s degree in Computer Science from California State University, Dominguez Hills, in 2025. He has a background in mechanical engineering, computer science, and game development. Allen worked as an independent game developer and created a video game centered on molecular chemistry, along with a space-themed shooter game.
Allen's professional experience includes a Summer Research Fellowship at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 2014, mechanical engineering work at IJK Controls in South Pasadena, and a teaching assistant role at Caltech. He also taught part-time at C2 Education, a private tutoring company, where he was recognized as 'Teacher of the Month' in 2024 for preparing high school students for college entrance exams.
In 2024, Allen made a modest donation to a political action committee (PAC) supporting Kamala Harris. His social media profiles indicate involvement in the Christian Student Fellowship and various college groups. Authorities revealed that Allen was attending the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel as a guest when the shooting occurred. Armed with a shotgun, he fired at an agent near the hotel's banquet hall. Investigators are working to uncover the motive behind the attack.
The suspect is currently in custody for questioning, and formal charges are anticipated to be filed against him on Monday as the investigation progresses.