Teacher accused in Trump dinner shooting had Caltech degree, gaming background
On TV screens: the moment a suspect was detained in a shooting at an event attended by U.S. President Donald Trump. (Photo: REUTERS/Ken Cedeno)
The man suspected of carrying out the shooting at a White
House Correspondents’ Association dinner worked as a teacher and video game
developer in Southern California, CNN
reported on April 26, citing two sources familiar with the matter.
The sources said law enforcement identified the suspect as
Cole Thomas Allen, 31.
The suspect reportedly lives in Torrance, a suburb of Los
Angeles.
A LinkedIn profile matching his name and photo describes him
as a part-time teacher at a tutoring and test preparation company. According to
the company’s social media accounts, Cole Thomas Allen was named “teacher of
the month” in December 2024.
The LinkedIn profile also says Allen graduated from the
California Institute of Technology in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in
mechanical engineering. It says he earned a master’s degree in computer science
last year from California State University, Dominguez Hills.
Allen donated $25 to Vice President Kamala Harris’ election
campaign in October 2024, CNN reported, citing Federal Election Commission
records.
U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump
were evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in
Washington on April 25 after an armed man tried to breach security.
Law enforcement identified the shooting suspect as
31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen of California.
The Washington Post, citing its sources, reported that the
suspect was not wounded and was taken to Howard University Hospital.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro
said the suspect would appear in court on April 27 and was expected to face a
“multitude” of charges.
Trump was wounded in an assassination attempt in July 2024
while speaking at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, during the
presidential election campaign. A bullet grazed his ear, and several spectators
were killed.
On Sept. 15 of that year, a man with a rifle was arrested
near Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach as Trump played golf. He was
sentenced to life in prison.
U.S. Secret Service agents shot and killed an armed man on
Feb. 22, 2026, after he breached the security perimeter of Donald Trump’s
Mar-a-Lago residence.
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