WASHINGTON — The California resident taken into custody following Saturday’s shooting incident at the White House correspondents’ dinner has been identified through social media profiles as an educated tutor and computer programming enthusiast.
Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, appears to match the individual shown in custody photos shared by President Donald Trump on Saturday evening. Online profiles reveal Allen recently completed a master’s degree in computer science at California State University-Dominguez Hills, with a graduation photo from May 2025 showing him in academic regalia posted to LinkedIn.
Educational records show Allen previously obtained his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena in 2017. During his time at Caltech, he participated in a Christian fellowship group and joined a campus organization that engaged in recreational Nerf gun activities.
A Los Angeles ABC affiliate featured Allen in a news segment during his final year of college, highlighting his work on assistive technology for seniors. The story showcased his development of an innovative emergency braking system designed for wheelchair users.
Federal election records indicate Allen made a $25 contribution to a Democratic political action committee supporting Kamala Harris’s 2024 presidential campaign.
According to his professional profile online, Allen spent the past six years employed with C2 Education, an organization providing college admissions guidance and standardized test preparation. The company recognized Allen as their educator of the month in a 2024 Facebook announcement. C2 Education has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Allen’s online presence also indicates involvement in video game development, including creating a chemistry-based game for the Steam gaming platform. Recent posts suggest he was developing a space-themed combat game featuring aerial combat mechanics.
