Cole Allen, the man accused of opening fire during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel, has been identified as a 31-year-old computer scientist from Torrance, California. Authorities say the shooting disrupted one of Washington’s most prominent annual gatherings, attended by senior government officials, journalists, and political figures.
Public records and online profiles indicate Allen had an extensive background in engineering, computer science, and game development. He attended the California Institute of Technology, where he studied mechanical engineering and graduated in 2017. The institution confirmed that a student by that name completed a degree that year.
During the summer of 2014, Allen reportedly participated as a summer undergraduate research fellow at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he worked on astrophysics-related projects. While in college, he also listed several technical projects, including the development of offensive and defensive robotic systems.
Allen was also involved in independent video game development. He created a physics-based role-playing shooter game titled First Law, focused on two-dimensional space combat. Later, he developed another game called Bohrdom, which he described as a combination of racing mechanics and bullet-hell gameplay involving self-propelled pinballs. That game was reportedly released on the Steam platform.
Beginning in March 2020, Allen worked for C2 Education, a tutoring company. He later enrolled at California State University, Dominguez Hills, where he pursued a master’s degree in computer science and graduated in May 2025. The university confirmed completion of the degree. A December 2024 social media post by C2 Education also recognized Allen as “Teacher of the Month” at its Torrance location.
Federal Election Commission records show Allen made a $25 political contribution to then–Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 election cycle, though officials have not suggested any connection between that donation and the current case.
Authorities said Allen rushed a U.S. Secret Service checkpoint at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner while carrying multiple weapons. During the confrontation, officials say he opened fire on a Secret Service officer, striking the officer’s ballistic vest. The officer was transported to a hospital and is expected to recover. Agents returned fire, though Allen was not hit, according to officials.
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 with a dangerous weapon. Additional charges are expected as the investigation continues.
President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Cabinet officials, and senior White House staff were escorted from the venue by Secret Service agents. The White House Correspondents’ Dinner was subsequently disrupted as law enforcement secured the scene and began a full federal investigation.
