A 31-year-old man from Southern California has been identified as the suspect who opened fire at officers during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, D.C., on Saturday. Authorities named him as Cole Thomas Allen of Torrance, a federal official familiar with the case told NBC News.
Officials said Allen was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives when he rushed a security checkpoint and ran toward the ballroom where the dinner was being held. He exchanged gunfire with law enforcement and was tackled to the ground, according to Jeff Carroll, interim police chief for the Metropolitan Police Department.
The suspect was not injured. A Secret Service officer was struck in his bulletproof vest, was expected to survive and was released from a local hospital early Sunday, sources said.
Allen’s motives remain unclear. Officials said he had no criminal record and had not been on law enforcement’s radar in Washington, D.C. A photograph of the apprehended suspect was shared on President Donald Trump’s Truth Social account.
Education and background details from public profiles show Allen graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering; Caltech confirmed a record of a student named Cole Allen who graduated that year. His LinkedIn profile indicates he earned a master of science degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills in May 2025. After Caltech, he worked for a year as a mechanical engineer, later became an independent video game developer and worked part time teaching at a company that helps high schoolers with college admissions.
A former high school volleyball teammate described Allen as a “borderline genius” and “super stable,” recalling his inquisitiveness, broad knowledge and strong interest in coding and computers. The teammate, who spoke anonymously, said they lost touch after Allen left for college and expressed surprise that he would be the suspect.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Allen will be charged with two counts related to using a firearm during a crime of violence and assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, and “many more charges” are expected. Pirro said the suspect is expected to be arraigned Monday in federal court.
Late Saturday, the FBI and Secret Service were at a home believed to be associated with Allen in Torrance, about 15 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles, preparing to serve a search warrant, Bill Essayli, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, said.
The shooting alarmed attendees at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, an event attended by the press corps, White House staffers and celebrities. Saturday marked the first time President Trump attended the dinner while in office; he and first lady Melania Trump were seated at the head of the ballroom, along with Vice President J.D. Vance. Video from the event captured what sounded like at least five loud bangs before armed officers moved in and evacuated the president, first lady, vice president and others.
“I heard a noise and sort of thought it was a tray. I thought it was a tray going down,” Trump said from the White House briefing room Saturday night. “Melania was very cognizant, I think, of what happened. I think she knew immediately what happened. She was saying, ‘That’s a bad noise.’”