31-Year-Old Computer Engineer Cole Allen Arrested for Shooting at Trump Dinner Event

A 31-year-old man named Cole Allen has been arrested for firing shots during a dinner event organized by the U.S. President. Cole Allen, a computer engineer and independent game developer from California, is known for creating first-person shooter games. He reportedly fired at Secret Service agents and was subsequently subdued and taken to a hospital following a law enforcement response.

On April 26 in Kathmandu, authorities confirmed the shooter’s identity as Cole Allen. The incident took place at the Washington Hilton Hotel during a dinner event set up for journalists by President Trump. Upon sudden gunfire, security personnel swiftly escorted President Trump, his wife Melania, Vice President Justin Vance, and others to safety. The suspect was immediately apprehended by officers at the scene.

Cole Allen is a California-based computer engineer who specialized in designing first-person shooter games. According to Fox News, Allen was taken into custody on charges related to the shooting. His LinkedIn profile lists him as a computer scientist, engineer, and independent game developer who designed a shooter RPG titled “First L.” He studied mechanical engineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and graduated in 2017. In the summer of 2014, he contributed to astrophysics research as an undergraduate research fellow at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

During a press conference on Saturday night, officials detailed that Allen ran toward a Secret Service security checkpoint carrying a weapon and fired at an agent. The officer was protected by a bulletproof vest but was still hospitalized as a precaution. Secret Service agents responded by detaining Allen and transporting him to the hospital. President Trump described Allen as a “lone attacker” and a person “with serious mental health issues.” Attendees at the event were reportedly crouching on the floor following the incident.