April 27, 2026 | 05:36 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, typically reserved for policy discussions such as tariffs and press relations, quickly turned into something far from decorous on April 25, when a gunman attempted to breach the convention.
Hours after the unsettling incident, President Donald Trump released what appeared to be the first clear image of the suspected gunman, showing him in handcuffs on the carpet of the Washington Hilton.
Authorities later identified the individual as Cole Allen, a 31-year-old teacher and engineer from Torrance, California. In a separate video shared by Trump, the suspect was seen being apprehended at the scene after reportedly running past a security checkpoint.
Citing USA Today, Cole Allen is reported to be a graduate of the California Institute of Technology and was previously recognized as a "teacher of the month." Beyond his primary profession, he has been credited with developing a prototype for a wheelchair emergency brake and creating several video games.
Further investigation by NPR uncovered a LinkedIn page seemingly belonging to the gunman, which describes Allen as a “mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, independent game developer by experience, teacher by birth.” The profile also indicates that he earned a master’s degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills, last May, adding to a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering obtained from Caltech in 2017.
A White House official said both the United States Secret Service and Montgomery County Police Department interviewed Allen’s sister as part of the investigation. During questioning, she confirmed that her brother had attended a “No Kings” protest in California and was affiliated with a group known as “The Wide Awakes,” a network of activists focused on social justice issues.
Additional details from the Federal Election Commission filings show that the 31-year-old made a $25 contribution through ActBlue, linked to Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign in October 2024.
Separately, according to ABC News, Allen was in the process of developing a space combat shooter game at the time of his arrest. He now faces multiple charges, including the use of a firearm during a crime of violence and assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.
Ultimately, the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was postponed, with President Trump expressing confidence that “another party” would be held within 30 days, promising it would be bigger and better than ever.
Read: Assassination Attempts on Trump Since 2016
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