Full Breakdown
Torrance Engineer Charged After White House Correspondents' Dinner Shooting
4/27/2026, 5:52:22 AM
The Shooting at the Washington Correspondents' Dinner
The White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday, April 25, was disrupted when gunfire rang outside Washington Hilton ballroom. Secret Service agents secured President Donald Trump, First Lady and Vice President Kamala Harris. Thirty-one-year-old Torrance resident Cole Thomas Allen charged the perimeter and fired on a Secret Service officer before being tackled.
Cole Thomas Allen: Education and Employment
Cole Thomas Allen graduated from CalTech in 2017 and earned a master’s from Cal State-Dominguez Hills in 2025. LinkedIn profile lists him as an indie game developer of “Bohrdom” and an employee of C2 Education, a private test-preparation firm.
Attack Timeline
Allen texted his family before the dinner, calling himself a “friendly federal assassin” and naming officials as targets. He then breached Washington Hilton perimeter with shotgun, handgun and knives, and opened fire on a Secret Service officer. Agents subdued him; the officer sustained minor injuries despite a bullet-proof vest.
Weapons, Injuries, and Charges
A shotgun, a handgun and knives were recovered. The Secret Service officer sustained minor injuries; Allen suffered a knee injury. He is charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer, with possible additional counts.
Official Statements & Responses
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the suspect intended “as much harm and as much damage as he could.” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said investigators are reviewing surveillance to trace how the weapons entered the venue. The Secret Service praised its rapid neutralization of the threat. C2 Education issued a statement expressing shock and pledging full cooperation with law enforcement.
Community Reaction
Asian American Civic Trust president Dylan Wakayama shared statements from former students who described Allen as intelligent and friendly, expressing profound shock at the alleged connection to the shooting. C2 Education condemned the violence and pledged cooperation with investigators.
Investigation Gaps
Allen’s message said dinner guests were not targets, yet he indicated willingness to “go through most everyone” to reach officials. Steam tags list his game as a “shooter,” contradicting his claim that the title is non-violent. Authorities have not explained how firearms were obtained in California and moved to Washington, D.C.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The idea with this is to prevent it from moving at all,” — Cole Thomas Allen, 2017 ABC7 interview
- “It is clear, based upon what we know so far, that this individual was intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could.” — U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro
- “Do not forget that the system worked. The secret service kept us safe, and that man was quickly apprehended and subdued minutes, seconds after he tried to breach the perimeter.” — Secret Service agent (anonymous)
- “We were shocked to hear the news of the horrifying incident that transpired at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement to assist them in their investigation. Violence of any kind is never the answer.” — C2 Education, official statement
- “The fact that his home is here doesn't define the city of Torrance this way.” — Mayor George Chen, Torrance
What’s Next
Allen is slated for arraignment Monday on firearm-use and assault charges. The FBI continues to examine his Torrance residence and digital communications for further evidence.
