Social media profiles associated with the California man arrested on Saturday in connection with the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner reveal him to be a highly educated tutor and an aspiring video game developer.
A profile photograph dating back to May 2025 of Cole Tomas Allen from Torrance, California, indicates a resemblance to the individual apprehended, as shown in a photo released by President Donald Trump following the event.
In this LinkedIn image, Allen dons a cap and gown, celebrating his attainment of a master’s degree in computer science from California State University-Dominguez Hills.
At 31 years old, Allen previously secured a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, where he actively participated in a Christian student fellowship and engaged in recreational Nerf battles.
Bin Tang, a computer science professor at California State University-Dominguez Hills, confirmed to The Associated Press that Allen attended several of his courses prior to graduation.
“He was an outstanding student, always seated at the front, attentively engaged, and frequently reaching out with questions regarding coursework. He was soft-spoken, extremely polite, and a genuinely good individual. This news has left me thoroughly astonished,” Tang remarked in an email.
A local ABC news outlet in Los Angeles featured an interview with Allen during his senior year, highlighting his work on a prototype for an innovative emergency brake for wheelchairs, as part of a report on emerging technologies aimed at assisting the elderly.
According to federal campaign finance records, Allen contributed $25 to a Democratic Party political action committee advocating for Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign in 2024.
Suspect’s Online Resume Highlights Tutoring Experience
Allen’s online CV indicates a six-year tenure with C2 Education, an organization specializing in admissions counseling and test preparation for prospective college attendees.
“Your Child’s Path to a Dream School Begins Here,” proclaims the C2 Education website.
“For more than 25 years, we have facilitated the acceptance of high-achieving students into prestigious universities through expert test preparation, GPA management, and tailored college counseling,” the organization elaborates.
In addition to offering ACT and SAT prep, C2 Education provides academic assistance to students across elementary, middle, and high school. Services are facilitated both in-person at academic centers nationwide and via virtual platforms.
In response to an inquiry from Education Week regarding reports of Allen’s employment at C2 Education, the company refrained from addressing specific questions pertaining to his tenure but released a statement.
“We were horrified to learn about the distressing event that occurred at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner,” the organization stated.
“We are fully cooperating with law enforcement to aid in their investigation. Violence is never an acceptable solution.”
A post on C2 Education’s Facebook page from 2024 recognized Allen as the company’s Teacher of the Month.
Furthermore, Allen indicated that he had developed a video game for the Steam platform, exploring themes of molecular chemistry. A corresponding post mentioned his endeavors to create a “top-down shooter” combat game set within an extraterrestrial environment.
Source link: Edweek.org.
