The suspected gunman, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, stormed past security at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, carrying several weapons. He was arrested, and police found a chilling manifesto. Now, authorities share what they believe could have been the motive behind the horrifying incident.
On Saturday night, a gunman, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, tried to storm into the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., carrying several weapons.
One Secret Service officer was shot while trying to stop the armed suspect, who was taken down and arrested. Inside were many Trump Administration officials, including President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, alongside many other prominent guests and journalists.
The U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., Jeanine Pirro,, said the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, will be charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and a second crime of assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.
In a press briefing shortly after the attack, President Trump said, My impression is he was a lone wolf whack job. These are crazy people.”
He continued, “I saw a room that was just totally unified. It was, in one way, very beautiful, a very beautiful thing. To see a man charge a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of the Secret Service, and they acted very quickly. It is always shocking when something like this happens.”
Gunman’s ‘motive’ behind assassination attempt on Donald Trump
Cole Tomas Allen, who was living in the Los Angeles, California, suburb of Terrence, was reportedly staying as a guest at the Washington Hilton, where the White House Correspondents’ Dinner took place.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blancche told the press that investigators believe he traveled by train from California to Chicago before arriving in Washington. He had checked into the Washington Hilton just days before the dinner.
Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, Blanche said authorities had recovered evidence from Cole Tomas Allen’s electronic devices. Moreover, a sort of manifesto shows he intended to target administration officials who attended the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
“It does appear that he did in fact set out to target folks who work in the administration, likely including the president,” Blanche said, adding that the suspect is not cooperating with investigators.
“He failed. Law enforcement did their jobs,” he continued.
Per CBS News, quoting a senior US official, Cole Tomas Allen was a part of a group called The Wide Awakes. He also attended a No Kings protest in California.
“Intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could”
Moreover, United States Attorney Jeanine Pirro painted a chilling picture of what the suspect was planning to do.
“It is clear, based upon what we know so far, this individual was intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could;” she said. “There will be many more charges based upon the information that we are learning in this very fluid situation.”
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