CNN, citing two sources, reported on April 25 that the suspect in the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner venue was identified as a 31-year-old man named Cole Tomas Allen.
According to the report, Allen is a teacher and game developer who lives in Torrance, outside Los Angeles. A LinkedIn profile said he worked part time as a teacher at the private education company C2 Education and received the company’s “Teacher of the Month” award in December 2024.
CNN, citing Federal Election Commission records, reported that Allen studied mechanical engineering at the California Institute of Technology and earned a master’s degree in computer science last year from California State University, Dominguez Hills. The report said he donated $25 to then-Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.
After the shooting, the Secret Service said the suspect was arrested and is being held. In a statement, Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said all protectees, including the president and first lady, were safe and the suspect was in custody.
Two sources said the gunman fired from outside the venue, wounding one Secret Service agent. The agent was hit by a bullet but was wearing a ballistic vest and is not expected to have life-threatening injuries.
The shooting was believed to have occurred outside the banquet hall near a rear staircase behind the side opposite the stage. President Trump and first lady Melania Trump quickly left the stage under Secret Service escort.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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