Who is Cole Tomas Allen, the suspect linked to Trump’s press dinner shooting?
A computer programmer with a master's in CS is accused of shooting at the White House correspondents' dinner.
Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old computer programmer from Torrance, California, has been identified as the suspect in the shooting at the White House correspondents' dinner on Saturday. President Donald Trump, who was present at the event, was uninjured, and a photo of Allen being taken into custody was posted by Trump on social media. Allen's LinkedIn profile, which matches the arrest photo, shows he earned a master's degree in computer science from California State University-Dominguez Hills. He previously graduated with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 2017.
Federal campaign finance records reveal Allen contributed $25 to a Democratic PAC supporting Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. During his senior year at Caltech, he was interviewed by a local ABC station about developing a prototype for an emergency brake for wheelchairs, part of a story on aging technologies. He also participated in a Christian student fellowship and a Nerf gun battle group on campus. Allen is described as a highly educated tutor and amateur video game developer, though his motive remains unclear as investigations continue.
- Cole Tomas Allen, 31, holds a master's in CS from CSU-Dominguez Hills and a bachelor's in mechanical engineering from Caltech.
- He donated $25 to a pro-Kamala Harris PAC in 2024 and was an amateur video game developer.
- President Trump was unharmed in the shooting; Allen was arrested Saturday.
Why It Matters
This incident highlights the intersection of tech talent and political violence, raising security concerns for high-profile events.