On April 25, 2026,President Donald Trumpwas rushed to safety after a gunman, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, opened fire at a security checkpoint during the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner at the Washington Hilton.
Allen is suspected of targeting President Trump and administration officials, and was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and knives. Allen reportedly wrote a manifesto and sent a note before the attack, according to a report by NPR ((National Public Radio).
Allen resides in Torrance, California and holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Caltech. Allen also earned a master's degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills.
There are reports thatfamily members of Allen had previously raised concerns about his mental state and extremist viewsto law enforcement. Investigators are reviewing a manifesto that described anti-Trump entries. The suspect's family member sent Allen's manifesto to law enforcement minutes before the incident.
As investigators examine the background of Cole Allen following the alleged assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, public attention has turned to his LinkedIn profile.
Allen has quite an impressive career background, based on the suspect's own inputs in his LinkedIn profile, which offers a rare look at a career shaped by engineering, education and independent technology work.
Cole Allen's LinkedIn page said he earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology, commonly known as Caltech, in 2017. That credential places him among graduates of one of the United States' most prestigious science and engineering schools.
Caltech separately confirmed that a person with that name graduated in 2017. The degree suggests a strong academic foundation in mathematics, physics and advanced engineering disciplines, often associated with careers in aerospace, robotics and product development.
Cole Allen's LinkedIn profilealso listed him as a former teaching assistant at Caltech before moving into private-sector work. The role involved assisting with technical instruction and experiments.
Teaching assistant positions at elite universities typically require subject mastery and the ability to guide students through lab work, coursework and practical demonstrations. If accurate, the listing indicates Allen once held a position of trust within an academic environment focused on research and innovation.
Source: International Business Times UK
