WASHINGTON (HRNW): Significant details have emerged regarding Cole Tomas Allen, the 31-year-old suspect arrested following the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night. U.S. authorities revealed that Allen sent a lengthy digital “manifesto” to his family approximately 10 minutes before attempting to breach security.
In the 1,052-word message, Allen referred to himself as a “Friendly Federal Assassin” and detailed his motivations for the attack.
Key Details from the Manifesto:
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Apologies and Intent: Allen began his message with a casual “hello everybody!” before apologizing to his parents and colleagues for the “surprise.” He admitted he did not expect forgiveness but claimed he saw no other way to get close to his targets.
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Targeting Strategy: The suspect stated his intent was to target Trump administration officials, “prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest.” He explicitly noted that hotel staff, guests, and media were not his targets, though he was willing to “go through” anyone if necessary.
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Critique of Security: In a section that has sparked debate over federal protection, Allen criticized the security at the Washington Hilton. He claimed he was able to enter the hotel and approach the event with weapons undetected, stating that if he were a foreign agent, he could have brought in even deadlier equipment.
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Rules of Engagement: He mentioned a desire to “minimize casualties” by using buckshot instead of slugs to prevent bullets from penetrating walls and hitting unintended victims.
Background and Evidence:
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Personal Profile: Cole Allen is a mechanical engineer and computer scientist from Torrance, California. He previously worked as a tutor and was once recognized as a “Teacher of the Month.”
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Weaponry: Law enforcement recovered multiple firearms, including a shotgun and handguns. Investigations confirmed that Allen was a regular at shooting ranges and had purchased his weapons legally over the last few years.
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Investigation: The FBI and Secret Service are currently conducting a joint investigation into the breach. Allen is facing federal charges, including assault on a federal officer and using a firearm during a crime of violence.
The incident caused panic among high-profile attendees, including President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, who were safely evacuated by the Secret Service as the suspect was tackled near a security checkpoint.
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