Authorities have identified [1] the man accused of opening fire at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner as Cole Allen, a 31-year-old computer scientist from Torrance, California, whose background includes work in engineering, education, and independent video game development.
Law enforcement officials said Allen rushed a Secret Service checkpoint at the event late Saturday night while armed with multiple weapons.
During the incident, he fired at a Secret Service officer, who was struck in a ballistic vest and transported to a hospital.
Officials said the agent was protected by the vest.
Agents returned fire, though Allen was not struck.
He was also taken to the hospital following the confrontation.
United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced that Allen has been charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.
Pirro said additional charges are expected as the investigation continues.
President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and senior administration officials were escorted from the venue by Secret Service agents during the incident.
Trump later described the suspect as a “lone wolf” and a “very sick person.” Authorities said no other injuries were reported.
Allen’s background reflects a record of academic and professional achievements.
According to his LinkedIn profile and other public records, he enrolled at the California Institute of Technology in September 2013 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.
He graduated in 2017, and the university confirmed that a student by that name completed a degree that year.
During his time at CalTech, Allen reported participating in research at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
In the summer of 2014, he said he worked as an undergraduate research fellow, contributing to astrophysics-related projects.
His profile also indicates that he developed multiple video games, including a project titled “First Law,” described as a physics-based role-playing shooter focused on two-dimensional space combat.
While at CalTech, he also worked on building offensive and defensive robotic systems.
Allen later created another game called “Bohrdom,” which he described as a “combination of a racing game with a bullet hell as experienced by self-propelled pinballs.”
The game was released on the Steam platform, according to his profile.
Beginning in March 2020, Allen worked with C2 Education, a tutoring company.
He later pursued graduate studies at California State University, Dominguez Hills, enrolling in 2022 to study computer science.
The university confirmed that a person with his name earned a master’s degree in May 2025.
A Facebook post dated Dec. 30, 2024, from C2 Education recognized “Cole Allen of C2 Education Torrence on being honored as December teacher of the month,” accompanied by a photo that matches Allen.
Federal Election Commission records show that Allen made a $25 donation to Kamala Harris during the 2024 election cycle.
Authorities said the incident occurred during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, which was attended by government officials, journalists, and invited guests.
Investigators have not released additional details regarding a motive.
The case remains under investigation as federal and local authorities continue to gather information about the events leading up to the shooting and the suspect’s actions at the scene.
President Trump’s full press conference can be seen below: