Accused White House dinner gunman identified as Californian teacher who once won ‘teacher of the month’
The alleged assassin accused of opening fire at a White House gala attended by Donald Trump and other powerful figures is a California educator who was once named ‘Teacher of the Month’.
The 31-year-old, identified as Cole Allen, worked for the education company C2 Education, which awarded him the award in December 2024.
“Congratulations to Cole Allen of C2 Education of Torrance for being honored as December Teacher of the Month!” read a post on the company’s Facebook page, which was still open Sunday afternoon.
Mr Allen was arrested at the scene of the shooting at the Washington Hilton hotel around 20:30 local time on Saturday.
A Secret Service officer was charged after he was shot in the chest after the agent said his bulletproof vest was key to his survival, authorities said.
The armed defendant was shot down as he tried to pass a security checkpoint and headed toward the ballroom where 2,600 people were eating their first meal at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
“He was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives as he ran to the checkpoint,” D.C. police Chief Jeffrey Carroll said.
“At this point it appears he is a lone actor, a lone gunman. There does not appear to be any danger to the public.”
Mr. Trump and first lady Melania Trump were escorted out of the ballroom by the Secret Service, while guests hid under tables before being evacuated.
Mr. Carroll said investigators understood the suspect was a registered guest at the hotel.
He added that it was too early to predict who he targeted or why.
At a news conference shortly afterwards, Mr Trump suggested the gunman was “pretty bad looking” and a “lone wolf act”.
He is being evaluated at the hospital and police will search his hotel room as well as his home in Torrance, Los Angeles.
Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, said Mr. Allen was charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and assaulting a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.
The suspect will appear in federal court on Monday (local time).
Miss Pirro was in the ballroom when the man went through the checkpoint.
“No one was injured because the checkpoint was working,” he said.
Mr. Trump described the man as “running from 50 yards” and said “he was fast…moving.”
“The way they caught him was very impressive,” he said.
