Cole Thomas Allen appeared as a completely ordinary man, one former student said.
A former student of White House shooting suspect Cole Allen said he seemed like a “totally normal guy” and showed no potential to do anything like what he did. “It’s weird,” the former student said when 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen opened fire outside the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.The Caltech graduate recently won the “Teacher of the Month” award as well. Allen had a rifle, a handgun and knives and was a guest at the Washington Hilton Hotel where the dinner was being held.
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Acting Prosecutor Todd Blanche told NBC News that Allen told police he was going after “administrative officials” but that he may not have been targeting anyone in particular and was alone.A former colleague said Allen never seemed capable of doing something like this.
George Daghlian, who was in the Christian Fellowship Club at Caltech with Allen, told the Wall Street Journal that he was in shock.
He also earned a master’s degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills.Allen worked as a tutor at C2 Education, a private tutoring and test preparation company, where he was named Teacher of the Month in December 2024, according to a LinkedIn post.Allen is registered as having no party preference, according to voting records.
He donated $25 to ActBlue in 2024 with a note “dedicated to Harris for President,” according to Federal Election Commission filings.Allen lives in Torrance, about 15 miles from downtown Los Angeles. The FBI raided the home late Saturday and spoke to neighbors as well. Allen is scheduled to appear in court on Monday. He is charged with two counts – using a firearm during a violent crime and assaulting federal officers with a dangerous weapon.According to reports, Allen apparently traveled from Los Angeles to Chicago before heading to Washington, D.C.
