What we know about the accused WHCA dinner shooter — Cole Allen
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 27, 2026
– 31-year-old computer scientist from Torrance, California
– Built shooter video games
– Elite academic track: enrolled at Caltech in 2013, graduated in 2017 with a mechanical engineering degree
– Named “Teacher of…
Authorities are investigating how Cole Allen, a California engineer and tutor with an elite academic background, allegedly carried out the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ dinner.
Cole Allen, 31, a computer scientist and tutor from Torrance, California, has been identified as the suspect in the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington. Allen, a Caltech graduate and former NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory intern, was also recognised by tutoring firm C2 Education as “Teacher of the Month” in December 2024.
Authorities said Allen rushed a Secret Service checkpoint at the Washington Hilton and opened fire on an agent, who was protected by a ballistic vest. Investigators are now examining how a background in science, engineering and game design allegedly culminated in violence at one of Washington’s most high-profile political events.