Khaberni - Former US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the suspect arrested after attempting to breach the dinner attended by White House correspondents wrote a "very anti-Christian" statement.
Trump said in a phone call with Fox News, "When you read his statement, you will find that he hates Christianity," describing the attacker as "clearly very disturbed."
The armed suspect tried to storm the hall where the dinner was being held at one of Washington's major hotels, prompting security forces to swiftly evacuate the US President and other officials.
The Attorney General, Todd Blanch, said that based on initial information, investigators believe the man "was targeting members of the administration."
The New York Post reported that the suspect had sent his family, minutes before the breach attempt, a manifesto declaring his intent to kill members of the Trump administration, describing them as "criminals."
Hours after the shooting, Trump posted a picture of the suspect handcuffed, face down on a carpet-covered floor.
What do we know about the suspect?
American media reported that authorities have identified the suspect as Cole Thomas Allen (31 years old), a resident of Torrance in Los Angeles County, California.
CNN quoted sources as saying that the suspect works as a teacher and a video game developer, while NBC reported that he has no criminal record and was not under law enforcement surveillance.
The police chief of Washington, D.C. said that investigators believe the suspect was staying as a guest at the Washington Hilton hotel.
Posts on Facebook - believed to be linked to Allen - indicate that he was honored as "Teacher of the Month" in December 2024 by the Torrance branch of a national private tutoring and college entrance exam preparation company.
What does his LinkedIn profile say?
His LinkedIn profile states that he is "a mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, an independent game developer by experience, and a teacher by nature," noting that he graduated from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena in 2017 with a degree in mechanical engineering.
Allen mentioned in his profile his participation in a Christian student fellowship at the institute and also in a college group that organized competitions using "Nerf" guns.
Also, he posted a picture of himself last year wearing a graduation robe and cap, announcing that he obtained a master's degree in computer science from California State University Dominguez Hills. His name appears in the graduation ceremony program for that university for the year 2025.
He also posted about developing "Bordom," a combat game "based on skill, non-violent... inspired by a chemical model, which in turn is inspired by reality."
What did his colleagues say about him?
According to NBC News, Allen studied at Pacific Lutheran High School in the suburbs of Los Angeles and was a player on the volleyball team.
A former teammate described him as "a natural-born genius... and a very balanced person."
His former teammate told NBC, "Others study hard, but he didn't need to study, he easily absorbed the information. He was very smart." He was also described as "a nice person."
Raiding his home
Trump mentioned that officials believe the suspect acted alone, adding "He was a man who looked very wicked when he fell."
Trump also said that federal agents raided the suspect's home in California.
FBI agents were seen entering a two-story house in Torrance associated with the suspect, according to Agence France-Presse.
The house, located in the southwestern suburbs of Los Angeles, was cordoned off, with police cars deployed around it.
A neighbor told CNN that he saw Allen at the property "two days ago."
Weapons and knives
Washington, D.C. police said the shooting suspect was armed with a hunting rifle, a pistol, and several knives.
The Associated Press reported, citing law enforcement officials, that Allen was arrested and detained after rushing toward the security checkpoints near the hotel hosting the event.
In this context, CBS News quoted two sources saying that after his arrest, the suspect told law enforcement that he intended to shoot officials in the Trump administration.
Federal Attorney General in Washington Janine Pirro announced that the suspect will appear in court tomorrow, Monday, stating that he will be charged with using a firearm during the commission of a violent crime and assaulting a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.
The New York Times reported that the police and the Secret Service exchanged gunfire with the suspect during the incident, before subduing him and transporting him to the hospital for a medical assessment, without announcing that he had been shot.
Donation to Kamala Harris's campaign
The Los Angeles Times reported that Allen was registered as an independent voter, not affiliated with either the Democratic or Republican Party.
According to records from the Federal Election Commission, a person named Cole Allen, employed as a teacher by "C2 Education" in Torrance, donated 25 dollars to a group fundraising for Kamala Harris's presidential campaign, former Vice President Joe Biden's Democratic running mate.
"Friendly Federal Killer"
A law enforcement official familiar with the investigation told the Associated Press that Thomas Allen sent writings to family members minutes before the attack, describing himself as a "friendly federal killer" and criticizing Trump's administration policies.
The official reported that these writings, sent just before the gunfire at the Washington Hilton Hotel, contained repeated references to Trump without naming him directly, and also alluded to grievances related to several of Trump's policies.
According to the New York Post, the text, signed by the suspect, mentioned civilian casualties in wars involving the United States, Trump's immigration policy, as well as the scandal involving convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The investigators are treating these writings, along with a series of social media posts and interviews with family members, as some of the clearest evidence yet of the suspect's thinking and possible motives.
The authorities also revealed a large number of anti-Trump posts on social media linked to the suspect, according to the official.
According to the official, Allen's brother contacted the police in New London, Connecticut, after receiving these writings. A police spokeswoman said they notified federal law enforcement agencies upon receiving this information.
