Who is Cole Tomas Allen as charges he faces over White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting are revealed

Suspected White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooter Cole Tomas Allen faces at least three charges, authorities said.

Allen, 31, is accused of opening fire Saturday night as the president met with senior cabinet members and thousands of journalists for the annual event.

Dinner at the Washington Hilton was just about to begin when a series of gunshots rang out, forcing the Secret Service to take action.

Authorities said they managed to capture the suspect after he violated a security checkpoint and exchanged gunfire with law enforcement.

The alleged attacker was later identified as Allen, a teacher from Torrance, California.

Federal prosecutors moved quickly and have already announced that he will be charged. using a firearm twice during an incident crime Violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.

He is expected to appear in federal court on Monday.

If convicted, Allen could face a 20-year prison sentence for the assault, while the weapons charges carry a minimum sentence of ten years in prison, while the shooting risks a life sentence.

“Based on what we know so far, it is clear that this individual intends to inflict as much harm and damage as he can,” said United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, adding: “There will be many more charges based on the information we have learned in this very volatile case.”

The Allen family is seen with Allen, second from right, his brother Gabriel, mother Kathy, father, Thomas, and sisters Stephanie and Avriana.

Less than 18 months ago, Allen was named teacher of the month at a school in Torrance.

Cops descended on Allen’s family’s $877,000 home Saturday night, shortly after he was arrested.

Despite the magnitude of the attack, Allen had no prior criminal record and was not previously known to law enforcement in Washington, D.C., authorities said.

According to publicly available information, he is one of four siblings, including two sisters named Stephanie and Arviana and a brother named Gabriel.

Photos circulating online show him smiling with family members at graduations and reunions.

His information on social media shows that he is highly educated and academically successful.

On LinkedIn he describes himself as: ‘Mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, independent game developer by experience, teacher by nature.’

Allen earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology and later a Master of Science in Computer Science from California State University.

Allen talked about his involvement in the Caltech Christian Fellowship and the Caltech Nerf Club during his time at Caltech.

More recently Allen has been working in education. Named C2 Education’s Teacher of the Month for December 2024; This is an award usually reserved for outstanding instructors.

That’s a far cry from the violence that prosecutors say he started Saturday in a D.C. hotel lobby.

Allen was charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence

Allen was ‘taken to the ground’ and handcuffed by law enforcement after allegedly passing a security checkpoint and opening fire.

Law enforcement members respond during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Allen is seen lying on the ground with his hands behind his back

Authorities say Allen charged toward the ballroom before being stopped with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives.

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Interim Police Chief Jeffrey Carroll said the suspect was ‘taken to the ground’ and handcuffed by law enforcement after an exchange of gunfire with officers.

A police officer who was shot while wearing his bulletproof vest is expected to recover.

Carroll confirmed Allen was not shot during the confrontation, but was taken to the hospital for evaluation.

Investigators believe Allen was staying at the hotel where the meal was hosted.

“So preliminary information, we believe he was a guest here at the hotel. We booked a room here at the hotel and we will again go through the appropriate procedures to determine what happened there as well,” Carroll said.

Hundreds of guests in the ballroom dove under tables as gunshots rang out nearby.

The President and First Lady were quickly evacuated by Secret Service agents.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump walked off stage immediately after the White House Correspondents’ Dinner after gunshots were heard at the Washington Hilton.

Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife, Cheryl Hines, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller and his wife, Katie Miller, are escorted from the room by the Secret Service.

Police surrounded the Washington Hilton Hotel, where shots were fired

Late Saturday night, the family home in Torrance was swarmed by armed police searching for evidence of the attack.

Allen is seen here with family members, including his brother Gabriel (right) and sisters Stephanie and Avriana

Cole Tomas Allen is seen on the far left with his siblings Gabriel, Stephanie and Avriana.

‘When you’re effective, they come after you. “They leave you alone when you’re not effective,” Trump said hours later, describing the suspect as a “lone wolf” and a “sick person.”

Authorities have said they have ‘no reason’ to believe anyone else was involved and have yet to establish any motive.

The charges currently filed carry significant penalties, and authorities have made clear they are just the beginning.

Authorities said Allen never breached the ballroom and credited the quick response of the Secret Service and law enforcement to prevent what could have been a much more devastating outcome.

“You saw the worst of that coward’s actions, but you also saw the best because you saw law enforcement do exactly what they were supposed to do,” said Acting Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. ‘I promise you that justice will be served.’