Cole Allen, the shooter at a Washington D.C. gala attended by Donald Trump, had a NASA internship and expressed anti-Christian views in a manifesto.
Background of the Shooter
Allen completed a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in 2017 and was set to earn a master’s degree in computer science from California State University Dominguez Hills in May 2025.
He described himself as an engineer, game developer, and teacher.
Professional Experience
Allen worked part-time as a teacher at C2 Education, a tutoring and test preparation company, for six years and was named “Teacher of the Month” in December 2024.
His experience also includes an assistant teaching role at Caltech in 2016 and a summer internship at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 2014, where he focused on modeling planets around stars.
He was featured in a local ABC Los Angeles segment for developing a prototype emergency brake for wheelchairs.
Manifesto and Motives
President Trump stated that Allen’s manifesto revealed a hatred of Christians, and indicated that a family member had reported concerns to law enforcement.
Trump described Allen as someone with “a lot of hatred in his heart” and characterized the attack as religiously motivated and strongly anti-Christian.
Investigation and Warnings
Investigators are examining letters and writings left by Allen, which suggest a plan to attack government officials.
A family member, reportedly his brother, alerted authorities, and another family member stated Allen expressed radical views and spoke of “doing something” to fix the world’s problems. Anti-Trump and anti-Christian rhetoric was found on his social media accounts.
The Shooting at the Gala
The shooting occurred Saturday evening, April 25th, at the Hilton Washington D.C. during a gala for the White House Correspondents’ Association.
The gunman, armed with a shotgun, pistol, and knives, opened fire before being subdued by security. President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and other administration officials were safely evacuated.
A Secret Service agent was injured during the incident, and the suspect reportedly stated his target was government representatives.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche indicated the suspect likely intended to target Trump and other administration members.
