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The day after gunfire erupted outside one of Washington’s most high-profile annual events, investigators are working to understand what drove a 31-year-old California man to allegedly open fire at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner — and a note he reportedly sent to family members before the attack is now at the center of that inquiry.
The suspect, Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, worked part-time as a teacher and developed video games. According to authorities, he sent a written statement to relatives shortly before the shooting that opened with an apology — “Let me start off by apologizing to everyone whose trust I abused” — while making clear he had no expectation of being forgiven.
The note also reportedly expressed political grievances, identified administration officials as his intended targets, and referred to himself as the “Friendly Federal Assassin.”
A Gradual Radicalization, According to Family
Allen’s sister told law enforcement that his views had grown increasingly extreme over time as he became involved in left-wing activism in the Los Angeles area. Alongside that ideological shift, he had acquired firearms and begun training regularly at a shooting range — a pattern that, in hindsight, those close to him now see as a warning trajectory they apparently did not anticipate would lead here.
In the days before the attack, that trajectory reportedly turned into a plan. Allen boarded a train in Los Angeles, traveled through Chicago, and arrived in Washington, D.C., where he checked into the downtown hotel hosting the annual dinner — an event attended this year by President Donald Trump and other senior administration figures.
The Attack
Authorities say Allen arrived armed with a .38-caliber semi-automatic pistol and a 12-gauge shotgun. After sending his written statement to family members, he allegedly attempted to force his way past security outside the venue Saturday night.
He managed to fire several rounds before being subdued. One Secret Service agent was struck but was wearing a bulletproof vest and survived. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed the details to CNN, noting that Trump and other officials inside the nearby ballroom were moved to safety during the incident.
What Investigators Are Looking At Now
With Allen in custody, federal authorities are reviewing his full social media history — which President Trump has publicly characterized as containing anti-Christian content — along with the written statement and interviews with family members, as they work to build a clearer picture of his motivations and whether anyone else was aware of his plans.
The investigation is ongoing.
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