The individual accused of attempting to breach the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was likely targeting officials from the Trump administration, revealed acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old teacher from Torrance, California, was apprehended after trying to rush past a security checkpoint while armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and several knives. This incident occurred on Saturday night.
Allen engaged in a gunfire exchange with Secret Service agents before being subdued and arrested. Fortunately, a bulletproof vest protected an agent who was hit, and they are expected to make a full recovery. No other injuries were reported.
According to Blanche, Allen’s journey reportedly started in California, traveling by train to Chicago before reaching Washington, D.C.
Authorities have gathered evidence from Allen’s electronic devices, suggesting he planned to target members of the administration attending the event.
“It seems he was indeed aiming to target individuals within the administration, possibly including the president,” Blanche stated during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
The suspect is believed to have purchased the firearms he carried within the last couple of years, Blanche said. He is not being cooperative and is expected to face multiple charges on Monday.
‘He failed,’ Blanche said. ‘Law enforcement did their jobs.’
Allen, a teacher from Torrance, California, did not say if he was targeting the president or anyone in particular, according to anonymous sources
Several Secret Service agents were seen with their guns drawn as they gave people orders
Top cabinet officials were seen getting rushed to safety by Secret Service agents. Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr and his wife Cheryl Hines are pictured getting taken to safety
Allen had told law enforcement that he wanted to shoot administration officials but did not say whether he was targeting President Donald Trump or anyone particular in the administration, CBS News previously reported, citing anonymous sources.
The White House Correspondents Dinner, an annual black-tie gala that brings politicians and journalists together, was barely underway when the Secret Service was forced to leap into action after a series of shots rang out.
Trump released surveillance footage of Allen, dressed in all black, sprinting inside the Washington Hilton hotel with a gun in hand before he was rushed by armed guards.
Journalists in the room captured images of top administration officials getting rushed to safety by Secret Service agents.
Video footage showed Vice President JD Vance being frantically helped off stage by Secret Service agents as Trump and Melania ducked for cover.
Clips then showed several agents reach for the President and quickly pull him to safety.
Other images showed chaos quickly unfolding, with one picture showing House Speaker Mike Johnson being rushed out of the venue by Secret Service members.
Another image showed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife Cheryl Hines ducking as they ran to safety.
Cole Tomas Allen, 31, is thought to have been targeting members of the Trump administration when he charged into the ballroom at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night. He is pictured after he was tackled to the ground and arrested
House Speaker Mike Johnson being rushed out of the venue by Secret Service members
Right behind them was Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller and his wife Katie Miller.
After everyone was rushed to safety, the president spoke at a White House press briefing in the West Wing within an hour of the violence.
‘It’s always shocking when something like this happens,’ he said. ‘I heard a noise and kinda thought it was a tray going down.’
Trump said that immediately Melania Trump recognized the sound as a ‘bad noise,’ adding that ‘it was a rather traumatic experience for her.’
‘Melania was very cognizant,’ he continued.
The President also shared his wife’s fear for his safety given the multiple assassination attempts against him.
Federal prosecutors have announced that Allen is being charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.
He is expected to be arraigned in federal court on Monday.
An agent is seen drawing his gun and shouting after gunshots were heard at the dinner
Several gunshots rang out as panicked attendees immediately ducked under their tables to protect themselves. A few journalists stayed seated or knelt, filming the chaos
If convicted, Allen could face 20 years in jail for the assault, while the weapons charges come with a minimum of ten years with a possibility of life behind bars if fired.
‘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,’ United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said.
‘There will be many more charges based upon the information that we are learning in this very fluid situation,’ she added.
Cops swarmed on Allen’s parents’ $877,000 home on Saturday night shortly after he was arrested.
Officials said Allen had no prior criminal record and was not previously known to law enforcement in Washington, DC.
He is one of four siblings, including two sisters, Stephanie and Arviana, and a brother, Gabriel, according to publicly available information.
Photographs circulating online showed him smiling alongside family members at graduations and gatherings.
His social media details he is highly educated and academically accomplished.
On LinkedIn, he describes himself as: ‘A mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, independent game developer by experience, teacher by birth.’
This is a developing story. More to follow.
