A man suspected of being the shooter who fired shots outside the White House correspondents’ dinner, prompting President Donald Trump to evacuate, was identified as Cole Tomas Allen. The incident occurred at the Washington Hilton hotel during the annual dinner attended by approximately 2,500 people, including Donald and Melania Trump, as well as JD Vance. President Trump referred to the suspect as a “lone wolf whack job” following the event on Saturday night.

Cole Tomas Allen, 31, is reported to have been part of a student prank group known for raiding random buildings. Despite his involvement in this group, Allen had a background as a part-time teacher and video game developer. He graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 2017 with a degree in mechanical engineering and was associated with the university’s Christian fellowship and NERF club.

During his time as a student, Allen participated in the Caltech NERF group, which engaged in activities involving NERF guns. These toy weapons are commonly used for recreational purposes by both children and adults. Additionally, Allen was recognized for developing a prototype emergency brake for wheelchairs while at Caltech.

Following his undergraduate studies, Allen obtained a Master of Science in Computer Science from California State University-Dominguez Hills. He worked part-time as a teacher at a test prep and tutoring company called C2 Education, where he was honored as “teacher of the month” in December 2024. Allen also pursued a career as a video game developer, with one of his games being “Bohrdom” and another in development named “First Law.”

The US Attorney for the District of Columbia announced that the suspect is set to appear in court on Monday to face charges, including using a firearm during a crime of violence. This incident marked the third time since 2024 that President Trump has faced threats from individuals in close proximity, including a previous assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.