Secret Service agents during the incident at a hotel in the US capital Washington.Image: keystone
Several shots were fired at the US correspondents’ dinner, which was also attended by President Donald Trump. A man was then arrested – this is what is known about him.
April 26, 2026, 08:44April 26, 2026, 08:46
Shots were fired at the US government’s annual correspondents’ dinner. Also in attendance this year was President Donald Trump, who was hastily evacuated from the stage, as were other members of his Cabinet and first lady Melania Trump.
A man was arrested. According to authorities, this is 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen. Loud CNN He worked as a teacher and video game developer in Southern California.
Trump published a photo of the detainee after he was subdued.Image: x
Allen lives in Torrance, a suburb of Los Angeles. In his LinkedIn profile, he describes himself as a part-time teacher at the company C2 Education, which offers exam preparation and tutoring. According to the company’s social media posts, Allen was named “Teacher of the Month” for December 2024.
In addition to his work as a teacher, he has apparently also developed a video game. He offered the game “Bohrdom” for sale on the Steam gaming platform for $1.99, reports CNN. According to U.S. Trademark Office records, he trademarked the name in 2018. In a LinkedIn post, Allen writes that he is currently “working on a second game with the working title ‘First Law’.”
Allen donated to Harris’ campaign
The 31-year-old is a graduate of the renowned college California Institute of Technology, or Caltech for short, writes CNN. He studied mechanical engineering there. He also earned a master’s degree in computer science from California State University-Dominguez Hills in 2025, according to his LinkedIn profile.
According to Federal Election Commission records, Allen donated $25 to Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign in October 2024, writes CNN.
According to US Attorney Jeanine Pirro, Allen now faces two charges: firstly, for using a firearm during a violent crime, and secondly, for assaulting a federal officer with a weapon. The 31-year-old will be brought before a judge on Monday. (hkl)