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What we know about Cole Allen, suspected White House Correspondents' dinner shooter
TL;DR
Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old teacher and engineer from Torrance, California, is the suspected shooter at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. He has a background in mechanical engineering and computer science.
Key points
- Cole Tomas Allen is the suspected shooter at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
- He is a 31-year-old from Torrance, California.
- Allen has degrees in mechanical engineering and computer science.
- He describes himself as a teacher and independent game developer.
Mentioned in this story
Cole Tomas AllenTorrance, California
A view of a home associated with the suspected White House Correspondents' Dinner shooter Cole Tomas Allen in Torrance, California, on April 26, 2026. PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images/AFP
PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images/AFP
Cole Allen, a 31-year old teacher and engineer from Torrence, California, has been identified as the man suspected of opening fire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner Saturday night, two sources familiar with the matter told NPR. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
Allen describes himself on LinkedIn as a "mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, independent game developer by experience, teacher by birth." He got a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from CalTech in 2017 and a master's degree in computer science from California State University Dominguez Hills last May.
According to his LinkedIn, Allen worked as a part-time teacher at C2 Education, a tutoring service that offers testing prep for high school students. He received a "teacher of the month" award from the company in December 2024.
17-year-old Jason was one of the students Allen tutored. He said that in the few sessions he had with him, he was a good teacher and called him a "smart guy". NPR is identifying Jason only by his first name because he's a minor.
"You wouldn't expect him to be plotting some crazy, evil plan to kill the president," Jason said. "He was just quirky because he was a just really smart guy."
Q&A
Who is Cole Tomas Allen, the suspected shooter at the White House Correspondents' Dinner?
Cole Tomas Allen is a 31-year-old teacher and engineer from Torrance, California, identified as the suspect in the shooting incident.
What were Cole Allen's educational qualifications?
Cole Allen holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from CalTech and a master's degree in computer science from California State University Dominguez Hills.
What happened at the White House Correspondents' Dinner involving Cole Allen?
Cole Allen is suspected of opening fire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, leading to his identification as the shooter.
Where is Cole Allen from and what is his profession?
Cole Allen is from Torrance, California, and he works as a teacher and engineer.
