Tutor, game developer, NASA fellow: Who is White House dinner shooting suspect Cole Tomas Allen?

The suspect arrested in connection with the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old tutor and software developer from Torrance, California. Investigators are now examining his background and possible motive.

Authorities said Allen allegedly opened fire outside the event venue in Washington, forcing the evacuation of attendees, including US President Donald Trump. He reportedly attempted to breach security at the Washington Hilton before being subdued by the US Secret Service.

A law enforcement officer was shot at close range but survived due to body armour. Trump later said the suspect was carrying multiple weapons and confirmed he is in custody. Formal charges are expected.

Who is Cole Tomas Allen?

Allen studied engineering and computer science, according to publicly available profiles. He graduated from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 2017 with a degree in mechanical engineering. Records also indicate he completed a master’s degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills in 2025.

His profiles describe him as a mechanical engineer and computer scientist by training, with experience as a game developer and work as a tutor.

Work as tutor and educator

Allen reportedly worked as a part-time teacher with C2 Education, a private tutoring and college preparation firm. A 2024 social media post by the company named him “Teacher of the Month” at its Torrance centre.

Online activity linked to him also suggests involvement in tutoring high school students preparing for college entrance exams.

Game developer and research experience

In addition to teaching, Allen is said to have worked as an independent game developer, including a project on the Steam platform focused on molecular chemistry. Another listed concept was a space-themed “top-down shooter” game.

Earlier in his career, he worked briefly as a mechanical engineer and served as a teaching assistant at Caltech. In 2014, he participated in a summer research fellowship at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Online footprint

Allen’s online profiles reference participation in student groups, including a Christian fellowship and campus gaming activities. He also worked on robotics-related projects during his time at Caltech.

Public records show he made a small political donation in 2024 to a committee supporting Kamala Harris.

What happened at the event

Authorities said Allen was present at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner when the shooting occurred. He was reportedly armed with a shotgun and opened fire near the ballroom area.

The incident triggered a large-scale security response, with all protected officials—including Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and Vice President JD Vance—safely evacuated.

The investigation into the attack is ongoing.