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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Cole Tomas Allen (aka Cole Thomas Allen, aka Cole Allen) 31, is from Torrence, California and is, of course, the "suspect" in the shooting incident at the White House Correspondence Dinner at the Washington Hilton, historically remembered as the same hotel where in 1981, then-President Ronald Reagan was the target of an attempted assassination.
Allen was a guest staying at the hotel. He was armed with a shotgun, handgun and several knives when he charged a security checkpoint outside the ballroom where the event was to take place and guests had gathered.
He exchanged gunfire with Secret Service and other law enforcement and fired at least once (some say several times). He struck a Secret Service agent in his bulletproof vest and the agent was hospitalized and expected to recover. There were no other injuries reported. Allen was quickly subdued and taken into custody--he was not shot--and was transported to Howard University Hospital for evaluation.
President Trump, Melania Trump, JD Vance and other officials were immediately evacuated. The President later called the shooter a "lone wolf" and praised the Secret Service.
The dinner will be rescheduled.
Allen, we know, worked as a part-time teacher/tutor at C2 Education, a test-prep and tutoring center in Torrence, CA, where he was named "Teacher of the Month" in December 2024. He has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Caltech and master's in computer science from California State University-Dominguez Hills (around 2024-2025).
Public records reveal that he donated $25 to a Kamala Harris supporting PAC in October 2024, and although California voting records do not show a party affiliation, it's unlikely that he votes Republican.
Allen appears to have acted alone and the motive is currently being investigated. It's possible that he doesn't like President Trump, but that's only speculation based on his behavior. How he was able to access the area is also being investigated and is probably related to him being a guest of the hotel.
FBI agents have been at his Torrence home.
He is being charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer, but more charges are expected.
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