President Donald Trump is safe after a shooting scare disrupted the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., where a suspect armed with multiple weapons was taken into custody.
The suspect has been identified by law enforcement officials as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old man from Torrance, California, according to CNN and other reports.
CNN reports Allen worked as a California teacher and also described himself online as a video game developer.
Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Cabinet members, and other officials were safely evacuated after shots were fired near the event at the Washington Hilton.
The Associated Press reports Trump and Vance were unharmed, while one officer was struck but protected by a bullet-resistant vest.
Suspect Worked As A Teacher
CNN reports Allen worked as a part-time teacher at C2 Education, a test prep and tutoring company.
A LinkedIn profile matching Allen’s name and photo listed him as a teacher at the company. CNN also reports C2 Education named Allen its “teacher of the month” in December 2024 through company social media posts.
According to the same profile, Allen graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He later received a master’s degree in computer science from California State University-Dominguez Hills last year.
CNN also notes Allen was previously featured in a local news report in 2017 for developing a prototype emergency brake for wheelchairs while he was a student at Caltech.
Suspect Also Listed Himself As A Video Game Developer
The detail relevant to the video game space is that Allen also described himself as a video game developer on LinkedIn.
Allen appears to have published an indie game called Bohrdom on Steam, where it was listed for $1.99. Federal trademark records also show Allen registered a trademark for the game’s name in 2018.
Allen’s LinkedIn profile also reportedly said he was “currently developing a second game,” with the working title First Law.
Wired also reports Allen had a background in engineering and computer science and had a limited online presence connected to indie game development.
What Happened At The White House Correspondents’ Dinner
The shooting scare happened Saturday night at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the annual media event held at the Washington Hilton.
Trump said the suspect was “armed with multiple weapons” and charged a security checkpoint before shots were fired. The president was rushed off stage, and officials later confirmed he and members of his Cabinet were safe.
The Associated Press reports the suspect was armed with multiple weapons and was taken into custody after the incident. The FBI, Secret Service, and D.C. Police are investigating.
The event was disrupted as security moved Trump, Vance, and other officials out of the venue. Reports from the scene described panic inside the dinner as attendees took cover.
Charges Announced
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said the suspect will be charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.
The Washington Post reports Pirro said the suspect is expected to appear in court Monday and that “many” charges are expected as the investigation continues.
Authorities have not announced a motive.
Trump Is Safe
Trump later praised law enforcement for responding quickly and said the suspect was in custody.
The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner was canceled following the incident. Reports say the event is expected to be rescheduled with increased security.
The investigation is ongoing.
