Kamal Ghorui
The shooter Cole Tomas Allen’s manifesto said he wanted to target Trump administration officials
Cole Tomas Allen’s family had raised concerns about his behavior before he allegedly attempted a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington DC on Saturday night.According to a senior US official cited by CBS News, Allen’s sister, Avriana, told investigators that he had frequently spoken about doing “something” to fix problems in the world.The 31-year-old California man is accused of opening fire near the entrance of the Washington Hilton hotel during the high-profile political media event, which was attended by President Donald Trump, vice president JD Vance and other senior officials. Secret Service agents quickly intervened, and Allen was taken into custody after a brief confrontation. One officer was injured but protected by a bulletproof vest.Allen had sent writings to family members shortly before the incident. Those writings included political grievances and strong criticism of government institutions, though officials have not said they directly mentioned the planned attack. One family member, Cole’s brother, alerted law enforcement after receiving the manifesto, CBS News reported.Law enforcement sources also said Allen had a history of making radical political statements online and in personal conversations. His family told investigators that he regularly visited shooting ranges for practicing and had legally purchased firearms in the years leading up to the attack. Records reviewed by Bloomberg News show he acquired both a handgun and a shotgun through licensed dealers in California.Investigators found extensive anti-Trump and anti-Christian rhetoric across Allen’s social media accounts, reports Fox News. Furthermore, Allen was linked to a group called “The Wide Awakes” and had attended a “No Kings” protest in California.According Federal Election Commission, Allen donated $25 to ActBlue, a political action committee that raises funds for Democrats in in October 2024. The money was meant for for Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. Allen used to work as part-time tutor and software/game developer.
