The family of Cole Thomas Allen has raised concerns about his behavior before his alleged shooting attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, DC, on Saturday night.According to a senior US official cited by CBS News, Allen’s sister, Avariana, told investigators that he often talked about doing “something” to fix the problems in the world.A 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 senior officials. Secret Service agents immediately intervened and Allen was taken into custody after a brief confrontation. One officer was injured but protected by a bulletproof vest.Allen had sent texts to family members shortly before the incident. Those articles included political complaints and strong criticism of government institutions, although officials have not said they directly referred to the planned attack. A family member, Cole’s brother, alerted law enforcement after receiving the manifesto, CBS News reports.Law enforcement sources also said Allen had a history of making radical political statements online and in personal conversations. His family told investigators that he regularly went to shooting ranges for practice and that he had purchased firearms legally in the years before the attack. Records reviewed by Bloomberg News show he acquired both a handgun and a shotgun through licensed dealers in California.According to Fox News reporting, investigators found widespread anti-Trump and anti-Christian rhetoric in Allen’s social media accounts. Additionally, Allen was associated with a group called “The Wide Awake” and participated in the “No Kings” protests in California.According to the Federal Election Commission, Allen donated $25 to ActBlue, a political action committee that raises money for Democrats in October 2024. This money was for Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign. Alan worked as a part-time tutor and software/game developer.
