Who is Cole Tomas Allen? 'Evil' teacher who stormed White House dinner

The teacher who opened fire at the Washington hotel whilst United States President Donald Trump hosted a dinner has been named.

Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance in California, was captured by the authorities after opening fire at the annual correspondants meal and is currently in custody.

The suspected shooter stormed a security checkpoint at the hotel, which Mr Trump has later described as "not a particularly secure building", armed with multiple weapons – a shotgun, handgun and knives.

Allen exchanged gunfire with a Secret Service Uniformed Division officer, shooting the security personnel's bulletproof vest.

He was tackled to the ground and handcuffed and taken into custody.

The authorities believe he was a "lone actor", DC police chief Jeffrey Carroll said, with the US President describing him as a "lone wolf whack job" who "looked evil" and would spend "life in prison".

Allen has no prior convictions and was not previously on US law enforcement's watchlist.

His motive remains unclear.

Recently awarded "teacher of the month", the shooter's work history includes a teaching assistant in California and a mechanical engineer.

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