What we know about Cole Tomas Allen, the Torrance teacher accused in the WHCD shooting

Man arrested after shooting at White House Correspondents’ Assn. diner on Saturday was identified by law enforcement sources as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, of Torrance.

Allen was first publicly identified by the Associated Press, citing unnamed law enforcement sources. One official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing investigation, told The Times that Allen is a suspect and that authorities are in the process of obtaining search warrants for addresses related to him in Torrance.

The atmosphere at the annual event in Washington turned into chaos when a man ran into a restaurant and was met with gunfire. Another hotel security guard said he saw the man with a gun. President Donald Trump was rushed to the stage. One police officer who was wearing a bulletproof vest was shot and taken to the hospital. Trump told reporters at a press conference that the official was “doing great.”

US Atty. Jeanine Pirro of the District of Columbia says the suspect is facing two counts of using a firearm and one count of assaulting a government official using a dangerous weapon. Authorities say he was in possession of a handgun, a rifle and several knives.

“This person intended to do as much damage and as much damage as possible,” Pirro said.

Authorities have not released a possible motive.

In October 2024, Allen donated $25 to ActBlue, a political committee that raises money for Democrats, according to the Federal Election Commission. The money was earmarked for Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign. It was his only political contribution listed on the FEC website over the past decade.

Allen, who is registered to vote without party favoritism, graduated from CalTech in 2017 with a degree in mechanical engineering. While at CalTech, he was a member of the school’s Christian fellowship and nerf club, according to his LinkedIn profile.

He was featured in a CalTech graduation announcement posted by the university in 2017 on Facebook, which included a photo of him as an adult in a red card and tie and a photo of himself as a beaming toddler holding a stuffed bunny.

Allen also received a master of science degree from Cal State Dominguez Hills in 2025, according to the original plan. His LinkedIn profile picture shows him sitting in his cap and gown with the caption: “I’m pretty sure my Masters in CS is done.” In his profile he describes himself as a game developer, engineer, scientist and teacher.

Allen was named Educator of the Month for December 2024 at C2 Education, which specializes in college test preparation, tutoring and academic advising. A representative for C2 Education could not be reached for comment.

Dylan Wakayama, president of the Asian American Civic Trust, said Allen has tutored several high school students who are members of the organization, a Torrance-based nonprofit.

“They thought he was very smart, knowledgeable about biology, mathematics and science. They thought he was on the good, quiet side. They were shocked when I told them that all this went down,” he said.

“I think all of us in Torrance would be shocked if this is the man who tried to kill the president of the United States,” he said.

In addition to his part-time job at C2 Education, he is also self-employed, according to his LinkedIn, identifying as an “indie game developer.”

He registered a trademark in 2019 for “Bohrdom” an atomic fighting game he created and released it on Steam, an online gaming platform. The game is described on the website as “a skill-based, non-violent fighting game based on a chemistry model that is itself loosely based on reality. Alternatively, think of it as a mix of bullet hell and a racing game, featuring self-driving pins.”

After Allen’s arrest, local and state law enforcement swarmed the Torrance area where he apparently lived with his family. Reporters and neighbors were circling the haunted house on Saturday night when a helicopter flew overhead.

Torrance police arrived, opening the road and putting police tape on part of the road. FBI officials also appeared on the scene.

A man who answered a knock at the front door said, “Not right now,” declining to comment further.

Colin, a 39-year-old neighbor, who declined to give his last name to speak about matters of privacy, said the residents of this home just moved six months ago.

“It’s sad,” he said. “There is no need for violence in this day and age.”

Another man, 50, who lives on the other side of the road, who refused to give his name to the reporter, said the family was friendly.

“We see them every day and we just say hi and they’re so beautiful,” she said. “They are peaceful people, they don’t make noise and when they see you they say hello.”

Staff writer Ben Wieder contributed to this report