Four days after Torrance teacher Cole Thomas Allen was allegedly attacked at the White House correspondents dinner in Washington, some facts are clear.
The video shows him running away from the security cordon at the hotel where the event took place. Authorities allege he wrote a “manifesto” describing his plan to fire Trump cabinet members. He reportedly informed family members about his plans some time before the attack.
But some key details remain unknown, including what exactly happened during those frantic moments in the hotel and what motivated them.
cole tomas allen in court
(Dana Vercauteren via Associated Press)
what do we know
- charge: Federal authorities charged Allen, 31, with carrying a firearm across state lines while traveling by train from California to Washington and discharging a firearm during the incident at the Washington Hilton, where authorities said a federal agent was shot in his ballistic vest. Endure. US Atty. Jocelyn Ballentine said Allen “traveled across multiple state lines with a gun” and “attempted to assassinate the President with a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun.” Neither Allen nor his attorney could be reached for comment. Allen was accused of attempting to assassinate President Trump.
- ‘Manifesto’: Authorities cited a manifesto allegedly written by Allen in which he called himself a “friendly federal killer” and said he was targeting Trump administration officials “in priority from the highest ranking to the lowest.” “I don’t expect an apology, but if there was another way to get this close I would take it,” the note said.
- Message to family: Prosecutors also detailed an email Allen allegedly sent to family members as he was preparing to breach the perimeter of the event, in which he allegedly wrote that top Trump administration officials were his targets, but he was willing to “go through” others at the event to reach them.
People react after an event at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association. Dinner on Saturday.
(Nathan Howard/Getty Images)
what we don’t know
- Timeline: Allen was taken down by agents shortly after he ran away from them and down the stairs before entering the ballroom, where Trump and other top administration officials were sitting. But it is not clear whether he had opened fire before his arrest or not. A Secret Service agent was injured, and authorities have not conclusively determined who was responsible.
- Injured Agent: According to federal filings against Allen, a Secret Service officer was “shot once in the chest”. The officer then “drew his service weapon and fired several times at Allen, who fell to the ground and suffered minor injuries but was not hit.” The officer was later treated at a hospital for minor injuries. When asked why no charges were filed, Allen, acting as an AT, fired at the officer. Gen. Todd Blanch said the investigation is still in its early stages and ballistics testing has yet to be conducted. “We want to get it right, so we’re still looking at that,” Blanch said at a news conference. “As far as going into precise ballistics, I’m not going to do that today because it’s still being considered and finalized.” USA Today reported that witnesstold investigators that Allen had shot at the agent.
- Motive: The catchphrase “manifesto” provides some clues to a possible state of mind. According to the charging document, he wrote, “If it were absolutely necessary (on the basis that the majority of people chose* to attend the speech of a pedophile, rapist and traitor* and are thus complicit) to reach the goal I would still go to the majority of people here, but I really hope it doesn’t come to that.” But the manifesto differs from the descriptions that people who knew Allen have offered about the suspect. Allen is a Caltech graduate and teacher, and those who know him expressed surprise at the allegations, saying that as far as they know, he has not talked about violence or held extremist views.
what will happen next
U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew J., who presided over the hearing. Sharbaugh scheduled a second hearing for Thursday morning to determine whether Allen will remain in custody.
Times staff writers Kevin Rector and Ben Wieder contributed to this report.
