On the evening of 25/4, a man attempted to breach a security checkpoint inside the Washington Hilton hotel to access the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, an event attended by US President Donald Trump. The man exchanged gunfire with law enforcement, striking an officer wearing a bulletproof vest before being subdued. President Trump was evacuated after gunshots were heard.

During a subsequent press conference, Trump stated the suspect was from California, and federal agents were searching his home. US media, citing law enforcement sources, identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, residing in Torrance, California.

Suspect being subdued at the Washington Hilton hotel on 25/4. Photo: Truth Social/realDonaldTrump

A LinkedIn profile with a photo and name matching the suspect indicates he was a part-time teacher at C2 Education, a test preparation and tutoring company. C2 honored Allen as "teacher of the month" in late 2024.

Allen graduated from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. He earned a master's degree in computer science from California State University - Dominguez Hills last year.

While a student at Caltech, Allen appeared in a local news report in 2017 for developing an emergency brake prototype for wheelchairs.

According to Federal Election Commission (FEC) records, Allen donated 25 USD to Democratic candidate Kamala Harris's presidential campaign in October 2024. However, he registered to vote as an independent.

Allen also described himself as a game developer on his LinkedIn profile and appears to have released an independent game called Bohrdom on Steam, priced at 1,99 USD. He trademarked the game's name in 2018, according to federal records. On LinkedIn, Allen stated he is developing a second game, temporarily named "First Law".

Suspect Cole Tomas Allen in a photo posted late 2024. Photo: California Post

A 50-year-old man living near Allen's home said his family was very friendly. "We see them every day and say hello. They are very kind. They are gentle people, quiet, and always greet others," he described.

Colin, a 39-year-old neighbor, stated that the Allen family had only moved in six months ago. "It's tragic," he said. "There's no need for violence in this day and age."

The Washington city police chief stated that the suspect acted alone, and his motive and target are currently unknown, though President Trump believes he was the target.

Based on available information, the US leader does not believe the incident is related to conflicts in the Middle East. However, President Trump stated that actions he took against Iran could make him a target, and he would not back down.

Pham Giang (According to Reuters, CNN, Los Angeles Times)