California Engineer Identified in Suspected Shooting at White House Correspondents' Dinner

The 31-year-old engineer and self-described indie game developer is suspected of firing shots at the annual event attended by President Donald Trump, high-profile media figures, and US government officials. US President Donald Trump listens as acting attorney general Todd Blanche speaks during a press briefing shortly after a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on April 25, 2026. A 31-year-old engineer and computer scientist was identified by media reports and President Donald Trump as the suspected shooter at the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday night. Cole Tomas Allen, of Torrance, California, was apprehended following the firing of shots at the Washington Hilton, where Trump was scheduled to deliver remarks to a ballroom full of journalists, cabinet officials, and Hilton staff. Allen's name surfaced in media reports shortly before Trump posted two photos of a suspect following his apprehension.