Suspect in White House Correspondents’ dinner shooting identified as Cole Tomas Allen

Key Points:

• Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old engineer and part-time teacher from Torrance, California, is accused of opening fire near the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, targeting Trump administration officials as stated in a note sent to family shortly before the attack.
• Allen was armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knives when he rushed a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton, exchanging gunfire with law enforcement before being subdued; he traveled from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., days prior to the event.
• His note expressed rage toward the Trump administration and outlined "rules of engagement" prioritizing administration officials as targets, while apologizing to family and others for his actions.
• Allen is a Caltech graduate with a background in mechanical engineering, known as a highly intelligent and gentle individual by former peers; he worked as a video game developer and part-time teacher, recently earning "teacher of the month" honors.
• Federal authorities plan to charge Allen with multiple offenses including using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer; investigations and searches are ongoing at his family home in California.