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Who is Cole Tomas Allen? Reporter identifies White House dinner shooting suspect after Trump escorted
One photo that has emerged shows Cole Tomas Allen receiving a “Teacher of the Month” recognition in Los Angeles County.
Fox News and New York Post columnist, Karol Markowicz, on Saturday identified the White House Correspondents Dinner shooting suspect as Cole Tomas Allen. She shared first details on X, noting that the individual is from Torrance, California and is in custody.
“The attempted shooter at the White House Correspondent's Dinner is 31 year old Cole Tomas Allen from Torrance, California and he is in custody,” she tweeted.
Far-right activist Laura Loomer also identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen. She additionally claimed he is a registered Democrat who donated to Kamala Harris' 2024 presidential campaign. These political claims have not been independently verified by authorities.
Unverified social media profiles allegedly belonging to Allen, including accounts on Facebook and LinkedIn, have circulated online. They list his educational background as including mechanical engineering studies at Caltech, a master’s degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and a research fellowship at NASA.
One photo that has emerged shows him receiving a “Teacher of the Month” recognition in Los Angeles County.
HT.com has not independently verified these details, which stem primarily from social media.
What happened at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner?
A sudden security scare disrupted the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday after shots were fired inside the Washington Hilton. Some attendees, as per The Associated Press, reported hearing between five and eight shots.
Read More: Karoline Leavitt's ‘shots will be fired’ remark ahead of White House dinner shooting surfaces
President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, and other officials were evacuated. Both Trump and Vice President JD Vance were uninjured. Roughly 30 minutes after the incident, Trump posted on Truth Social that a ‘shooter has been apprehended’.
Trump responds
“Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we “LET THE SHOW GO ON” but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we’ll just, plain, have to do it again,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
He later announced that he will deliver a press conference from the White House briefing room.
Read More: 'Let the show go on': Donald Trump after security incident at White House press dinner
“Law Enforcement has requested that we leave the premises, consistent with protocol, which we will do, immediately. I will be giving a press conference in 30 minutes from the White House Press Briefing Room. The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition. We will be speaking to you in a half an hour. I have spoken with all the representatives in charge of the event, and we will be rescheduling within 30 days.”
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro shared an update in a video recorded after being escorted out, saying, “I have been taken out of the ballroom after the sound of the shots fired. The Secret Service is now in charge of this building, this hotel. I just spoke to Mayor Muriel Bowser. She is on her way, and (Police) Chief Jeffery Carroll is on his way. He will be in charge as soon as he gets here.”
