New Photos and Details Released in DOJ Filing About Correspondents’ Dinner Incident
Torrance Man Arrested Following Shooting Incident at White House Correspondents’ Dinner
Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old from Torrance, has been arrested in connection with an attempted assassination of President Trump during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The incident occurred at the Washington Hilton, where Allen allegedly opened fire as the event unfolded.
Federal officials have charged Allen with several offenses, including attempting to assassinate the President, transporting firearms across state lines with criminal intent, and discharging a weapon during a violent crime. Authorities state that he was apprehended shortly after bypassing a security checkpoint, armed with a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun and multiple knives.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) presented new details and photographs in a court filing released Wednesday, underscoring the gravity of the situation. The filing documented items found in Allen’s possession at the time of the attack, including ammunition and other weapons, as well as items discovered during a search of his parents’ home in the Los Angeles area. Notably, this search revealed long gun bags and a training pistol.
According to the DOJ, Allen had been closely monitoring the President’s movements prior to the attack through news reports and live streams. In the moments leading up to the shooting, he took photographs of himself in his hotel room, dressed in black and wearing a red tie.
"Had the defendant achieved his intended outcome, he would have brought about one of the darkest days in American history," Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Jones commented on the seriousness of Allen’s actions.
Allen’s alleged attack commenced around 8 p.m., shortly after he discarded a coat that concealed his shotgun. He reportedly fired in the direction of the ballroom where the President and other high-profile officials were located. During the ensuing chaos, a U.S. Secret Service officer sustained a minor injury in the confrontation, while Allen himself was restrained and arrested without being struck by gunfire.
After checking into the hotel on April 24, Allen sent an apologetic note to family members moments before the incident. The note expressed remorse and hinted at a critical view of President Trump, though he did not mention the President by name.
Allen, who graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 2017 with a degree in mechanical engineering, reportedly worked as an independent video game developer prior to these events. His former employer, C2 Education, expressed shock at the incident and emphasized their commitment to cooperating with law enforcement.
He is scheduled for a detention hearing on Thursday. As federal authorities continue their investigation, the implications of Allen’s actions raise significant concerns regarding security at high-profile events, a conversation echoed by experts in the field.
