California Teacher Identified As Suspect In Trump Gala Shooting
The United States Secret Service has launched an investigation into a shooting incident that occurred in Washington during the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton.
The agency, in a statement, said it is working with the Metropolitan Police Department to determine the circumstances of the incident, which occurred near a security screening area.
The shooting was reported close to the main magnetometer checkpoint used to screen guests, prompting an immediate response from law enforcement officers on duty.
The Chief of Communications, United States Secret Service, Anthony Guglielmi, on its X handle on Sunday, confirmed that all protected individuals, including the president and first lady, were safe following the incident.
One suspect has been taken into custody, while authorities continue to assess the condition of those involved.
Guglielmi said teams are on the ground actively investigating and gathering information, adding that updates will be provided as more details are confirmed.
“We will provide updates as they become available and confirm information. Our teams are on the ground assessing the situation and investigating. All of our protectees are safe,” he added.
Meanwhile, the identity of the man in custody has been revealed as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old teacher and video game developer from Southern California, according to CNN.
Allen, who resides in Torrance, a suburb of Los Angeles, was identified by law enforcement sources as the armed suspect subdued near the venue where President Donald Trump and other top officials had gathered.
Public records show that Allen worked as a part-time teacher at C2 Education, a test preparation and tutoring company, where he was recognised as “teacher of the month” in December 2024.
His LinkedIn profile indicates that he graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and later obtained a master’s degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
