Authorities have identified the gunman who opened fire at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, a California-based teacher and video game designer who orchestrated a cross-country journey to target the Trump administration.
In reports published by The Washington Post and CNN, investigators revealed that Allen dubbed himself a “friendly federal assassin” in a chilling missive sent to family members moments before he stormed the security perimeter of the Washington Hilton on Saturday night.
Allen, a mechanical engineering graduate from the California Institute of Technology who worked as a tutor and developed independent video games, traveled by train from his home in Torrance, California, to Washington, D.C., armed with a .38-caliber semi-automatic pistol and a 12-gauge shotgun.
During the confrontation, Allen exchanged gunfire with Secret Service agents, injuring one officer who was protected by a bulletproof vest before being apprehended while President Donald Trump and other administration officials were inside the hotel.
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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed that preliminary investigations suggest Allen acted alone, fueled by political grievances against the administration, which he labeled as traitorous in his pre-attack letter.
While Allen, who was recently named “Teacher of the Month” by his employer C2 Education, had no prior criminal history and was described by neighbors and former professors as soft-spoken and polite, his family had previously expressed concern over his radical statements and growing involvement in left-wing activism.
Following his arrest, the suspect has refused to cooperate with authorities, though he faces federal charges including the assault of a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.
White House Correspondence Shooter Identified as Cole Thomas Allen.
This is how secret service controlled the shooter. pic.twitter.com/XtWMHxAPGj
— Prashant Umrao (@ippatel) April 26, 2026
