Schools and universities where the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooter attended share their reaction

CARSON, Calif. (NBC, KYMA) - Schools and universities, attended by the suspected White House Correspondents' Dinner (WHCD) gunman, react to the shooting.

"It surprised me a lot, I will say that," said a California State University (CSU) student.

Students shared their reaction to the email they got over the weekend from the university, alerting them that the WHCD shooter, 31-year-old Cole Allen, attended Cal State Dominguez Hills.

"They did say an alumni or graduate...They didn't say that he was currently came here, so that's why I didn't know him," the CSU student shared.

Computer Science Professor Dr. Bin Tang told KNBC off camera Allen was a "very good student, always sitting in the first row, paying attention, soft spoken, very polite…I am very shocked to see the news."

Video from the schools commencement program shows Allen graduating with a master's degree in computer science in 2025 after earning a bachelors degree from Caltech.

Before that, he graduated from Pacific Lutheran in Gardena, where administrators only confirmed he attended his senior year and played on a sports team.

The school's principal told KNBC off camera, "There were no issues that I'm aware of…We are praying for him and his family and everyone involved."

A pastor at the United Reformed Church of Pasadena that Allen attended while at Caltech also told KNBC off camera, "Allen was a faithful member of the church. He did not express any political views, and was an ordinary guy."

The pastor says he was surprised by the news and that nothing in the past indicated that he would do anything like this.

Outside his family home, where Allen was living with his parents, KNBC also spoke with a man who says he knows students that Allen tutored.

"Both of these students seemed incredibly shocked...I think their families are in disbelief," said Dylan Wakayama, President of the Asian American Civic Trust.

Allen was formally charged in a federal court in Washington, D.C. Monday with trying to assassinate the president, interstate transportation of weapons and discharge of a firearm during a violent crime.

He did not enter a plea and will remain in custody. There will also be a hearing Thursday to determine if he's eligible for a pre-trial release.