The armed assailant who plunged a press gala attended by American president Donald Trump into chaos has been identified by American media as a 31-year-old mechanical engineer from California. Just hours after the shots were fired outside the ballroom where the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner was being held on Saturday, Donald Trump shared a photo of the suspect handcuffed and shirtless, face down on the carpet.
The man with brown hair and a mustache was identified by several American media outlets, citing sources within law enforcement, as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, a southwest suburb of Los Angeles, California. American authorities have not yet publicly confirmed the suspect’s identity.
Donald Trump told Fox News on Sunday that the suspect, who had tried to force his way past a metal detector at the entrance to the room, left a manifesto. “When you read his manifesto, he hates Christians, there is no doubt about it,” he said, referring to the person as “obviously very disturbed.” According to the New York Post, the suspect had sent his family a manifesto a few minutes before carrying out the act in which he announced his intention to kill members of the Trump administration, described as “criminals”. “These are targets, ranked by priority from highest to lowest,” the message read, according to the newspaper.
This article continues to discuss the suspect’s profile as a video game developer, mentioning his manifesto and beliefs regarding various political and social issues. It details his activities on social media platforms and his educational background.
The suspect will appear in court on Monday on charges related to firearms and assaults, according to officials. Authorities confirmed he was armed with a shotgun, a pistol, and multiple knives, and was not known to the Washington Metropolitan Police Department.
President Trump called the suspect a “lone wolf” and stated that his motivation was not yet clear but believed he was “sick.” FBI agents were seen entering a two-story house in Torrance linked to the suspect. Neighbors reported seeing Allen at the property a few days ago.
Cole Allen attended Pacific Lutheran High School in the Los Angeles suburb and was described by former classmates as highly intelligent and gentle. He was registered to vote without a party preference and had made a political donation.
The investigation into the motives behind the attack is ongoing, with authorities continuing to gather information about the suspect’s background and activities.
