Authorities have identified the man arrested after the shooting scare at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, a California teacher and video game developer.
Allen, who lives in Torrance, a suburb of Los Angeles, was apprehended after allegedly breaching a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton, where United States President Donald Trump and other top officials were attending the annual event.
According to investigators, Allen was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and several knives when he ran through the security perimeter before being confronted by Secret Service agents.
“He was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives,” Washington, D.C., interim police chief Jeffery Carroll said.
“As he ran through that checkpoint, members of law enforcement from the United States Secret Service intercepted that individual.”
Authorities said there was an exchange of gunfire during the confrontation. One Secret Service agent was struck but survived after the bullet hit a protective vest.
Public records show Allen worked as a part-time teacher at C2 Education in Southern California. He was also known in technology circles as an independent video game developer.
Federal prosecutors have filed charges against him, including using a firearm during a crime of violence and assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon. His arraignment is scheduled for Monday.
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