DC shooting suspect airs his grievances against Trump in writing to family – National

The man accused of opening fire at a White House Correspondents’ Association dinner railed against Trump administration policies and called himself the “Friendly Federal Killer” in writings sent to family members minutes before the attack that authorities increasingly believe was politically motivated, according to a message reviewed by The Associated Press.

The posts, sent shortly before the shooting occurred Saturday night at the Washington Hilton, repeatedly referred to President Donald Trump without directly naming him and touched on complaints about a series of administration actions, including US attacks on ships accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

Investigators consider those writings, along with a trail of social media posts and interviews with family members, to be the clearest evidence of the suspect’s mindset and possible motives.

Authorities also uncovered what a law enforcement official described as a number of anti-Trump social media posts linked to the suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old California man accused of trying to breach a security checkpoint while dining while carrying multiple guns and knives.

The suspect’s brother contacted Connecticut police

Allen’s brother contacted police in New London, Connecticut, after receiving the writings, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The New London Police Department said in a statement that they were contacted at 10:49 p.m., about two hours after the shooting, by someone who wanted to share information regarding the shooting. The police department said it then immediately notified federal law enforcement.

Federal agents have also interviewed Allen’s sister in Maryland, who told investigators that her brother had legally purchased several guns from a California gun shop and stored them at their parents’ home in Torrance without their knowledge, according to the officials.

He described his brother as prone to making radical statements, the official said.

The posts examined by the AP contained more than a thousand words and read as rambling and highly personal messages, opening with a “hello everyone!” before moving on to apologize to family members and co-workers, and even strangers who he feared could have been caught up in the violence. The note moves between confession, complaint and farewell, with Allen thanking the people in his life even as he attempts to explain the attack.

Elsewhere, he switches between political outrage, religious justification, and rebuttal to imagined criticism. He also offered derisive criticism of security at the Washington Hilton, mocking what he described as lax precautions and expressing surprise that he was able to enter the hotel undetected.

The AP limits use of the attackers’ writings and posts on social media to avoid amplifying their views or encouraging impersonation. The AP chose to summarize their words and focus primarily on the victims and investigation.

Allen legally purchased a .38-caliber semi-automatic pistol in October 2023 and a 12-caliber rifle two years later, according to law enforcement officials, and another person who also spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.

The acting head of the Justice Department said Trump officials were the targets

Allen is believed to have traveled by train from California to Chicago and then to Washington, where he checked in as a guest days earlier at a hotel where the dinner was being held under typically tight security, acting attorney general Todd Blanche said. He is believed to have acted alone and will face criminal charges on Monday.

Allen attempted to make his way to the grand ballroom at the Washington Hilton but collapsed in violent scenes that saw shots fired, Trump rushing off the stage unharmed and guests ducking for cover under their tables.

“It does appear that he is targeting people who work in the government, most likely including the president,” Blanche said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

The profile of the shooting suspect appears

Social media posts that appear to match the suspect indicate he is a college-educated tutor and amateur video game developer.

Allen’s profile photo in May 2025 appears to match the appearance of the man in a photo of the alleged assailant in custody posted Saturday night by Trump. The photo, posted to the social networking site LinkedIn, shows him wearing a cap and gown after graduating with a master’s degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Allen earned a bachelor’s degree in 2017 in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. He noted his involvement there in a Christian student fellowship and a campus group that fought with Nerf guns.

A local ABC station in Los Angeles ran an interview with Allen during his senior year of college as part of a story about new technology to help people as they age. He has developed a prototype of a new type of emergency brake for wheelchairs.

Allen donated $25 to a Democratic political action committee to support Kamala Harris for president in 2024, according to federal campaign finance records.

A chaotic scene occurred minutes after the party started

Shooting at security barricades occurred several minutes after the event took place.

The Secret Service and other authorities filled the room as hundreds of guests ducked under tables. Gasps echoed throughout the ballroom as the guests realized something was happening. Hundreds of journalists immediately called asking for information.

“Move, sir!” someone shouted. Others shouted to duck. From one corner, chants of “God Bless America” began as the president was escorted off the stage. Outside the hotel, members of the National Guard and other authorities flooded the area as helicopters circled above the hotel.

After initial attempts to proceed with the event, it was canceled for the evening and will be rescheduled.

Trump was remarkably conciliatory after what he saw as the third attempt on his life in less than two years. He noted that his personal politics have made him a recurring target, but he also called for bipartisan unity and healing in an increasingly violent world.

“It’s always a shock when something like this happens. It’s happened to me a little bit. And that never changes,” Trump told reporters at a hastily organized news conference at the White House Saturday evening.

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