Media reports provided initial details about the identity of the person who stormed a security point during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in the presence of US President Donald Trump, indicating that the suspect, a young engineer from California, was arrested at the scene of the incident, amid ongoing investigations to uncover his circumstances. Investigators suggested that the gunman intended to target Trump and a number of senior administration officials during the party that was held inside a hotel in Washington. The suspect is expected to appear on Monday before a federal judge in Washington.

Published on: 04/26/2026 - 18:29 Last updated: 04/27/2026 - 11:48

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Media reports stated that the gunman who stormed, on Saturday, a security point outside a banquet hall where a dinner was being held in the presence of US President Donald Trump in a Washington hotel, is a 31-year-old mechanical engineer who hails from California.

Hours after the shooting outside the hall that hosted the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, Trump posted a photo of the suspect with his hands tied behind his back and thrown face down on a carpeted floor.

American media, citing law enforcement sources, reported that the man, with brown hair and mustache, was named Cole Thomas Allen (31 years old) from the city of Torrance, California, while the American authorities did not issue official confirmation of his identity.

A LinkedIn account called “Cole Allen” also showed a photo of a man that appeared to be identical to the photo posted by Trump.

The suspect is expected to appear during the day on Monday before a federal judge in Washington.

He is expected to be charged with two counts of possession of firearms to commit a violent crime and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.

On his social media profile, Allen states that he is an engineer interested in game development and lives in the greater Los Angeles area.

His profile included that he is “a mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, an independent game developer by experience, and a natural teacher,” noting that he holds a university degree from the California Institute of Technology.

According to his university's graduation ceremony program, a person named Cole T graduated. Allen of Torrance graduated from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 2017 with a degree in mechanical engineering.

Read also a timeline of the shooting incident during the White House Correspondents' Dinner

According to his profile, Allen was a member of the group "Caltech Christians" and the NERV Club.

He also posted a photo of himself last year wearing a graduation gown and cap, announcing that he had obtained a master's degree in computer science from California State University Dominguez Hills. His name appears on that university's graduation ceremony program for the year 2025.

He also has a post about his development of “Purdom,” a fighting game that is “skill-based, non-violent... inspired by a chemical model that is in turn inspired by reality.”

He says on his LinkedIn page that he is a part-time teacher at C2 Education, an educational institution that specializes in preparing students for tests.

She named Allen "Teacher of the Month" in a December 2024 Instagram post.

What do investigations reveal about his intentions?

American investigators suggested that the suspect intended to target President Donald Trump and a number of senior administration officials.

Prosecutor Todd Blanche explained that preliminary information indicates that he was “targeting members of the administration,” but no other motives for the attack have yet become clear.

He added that the man is not actively cooperating with the investigation, suggesting that he moved by train from Los Angeles to Chicago and then to Washington, and that he purchased these weapons during the past two years, while the authorities are still investigating whether he acted alone, and that he will appear before a federal court in Washington on Monday.

"mental patient"

Trump told reporters that the suspect arrested at the scene was a California resident, and that law enforcement officers had raided his home and were searching it.

Authorities said he was armed with a hunting rifle, a pistol, and knives, adding that he had no history with the Washington, D.C., police.

On Saturday, FBI agents were seen entering a two-story house in Torrance, linked to the suspect, according to an Agence France-Presse photographer.

The house, located in the southwestern suburb of Los Angeles, was cordoned off, while police cars were deployed around it.

A neighbor told CNN he saw Allen on the property "a couple of days ago."

According to NBC News, Allen studied at Pacific Lutheran High School in the suburbs of Los Angeles, and was a player on the volleyball team.

A former teammate described him as a "natural genius... and a very level-headed person."

His former colleague told NBC, "Others studied hard, but he didn't need to study. He absorbed information easily. He was very smart." He was also described as a "nice person."

The Los Angeles Times reported that Allen was registered as an independent voter, meaning he was not affiliated with either the Democratic or Republican parties.

According to Federal Election Commission records seen by Agence France-Presse, a person named Cole Allen, who works as a teacher at C2 Education in Torrance, donated $25 to a group that was collecting donations for the presidential campaign of Kamala Harris, former Democratic Vice President Joe Biden.

France 24/AFP

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