Gunman Cole Thomas Allen’s manifesto says he wanted to target Trump administration officials
Cole Thomas Allen allegedly attempted to fire a gun at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, D.C., on Saturday night after his family expressed concerns about his behavior.Allen’s sister Avriana told investigators that he often talked about doing “something” to solve the world’s problems, CBS News reported, citing a senior U.S. official.The 31-year-old California man is accused of opening fire near the entrance to the Washington Hilton hotel during a high-profile political media event attended by President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and other top officials. Secret Service agents quickly intervened and Allen was taken into custody after a brief confrontation. One officer was injured but was protected by a bulletproof vest.Allen had sent letters to his family shortly before the incident. The articles included political grievances and strong criticism of government agencies, although officials did not say they directly mentioned the planned attack. One of Cole’s family members reported it to law enforcement after receiving the manifesto, CBS News reported.Law enforcement sources also said Allen has a history of making aggressive political statements online and in personal conversations. His family told investigators he regularly went to shooting ranges to practice and legally purchased a gun years before the attack. Records reviewed by Bloomberg News show he purchased a handgun and a shotgun through an authorized dealer in California.According to Fox News, investigators found numerous anti-Trump and anti-Christian comments on Allen’s social media accounts. Additionally, Allen has been associated with a group called “The Wide Awakes” and participated in the “No Kings” protests in California.Allen donated $25 to ActBlue, a political action committee that raises money for Democrats in October 2024, according to the Federal Election Commission. The money was supposed to go to Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. Alan has worked as a part-time tutor and software/game developer.
