First, the correction. On the night of April 25, 2026, initial reports — including from this site — stated that the gunman who opened fire at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner was killed by Secret Service. That was wrong. Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, was subdued and arrested. He is alive and in federal custody. The Secret Service agent who was struck by gunfire was saved by his ballistic vest and has been released from the hospital. Nobody died. Those are the facts, and the record is now corrected.
What we know now, 24 hours later, is far more disturbing than what we knew that night.
The Manifesto
According to the New York Post, which obtained the document, and confirmed by two federal sources to the Los Angeles Times, Allen wrote a manifesto before the attack. In it, he called himself a “Friendly Federal Assassin.” The manifesto listed Trump administration officials as targets, “prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest,” according to multiple law enforcement officials.
“Turning the other cheek is for when you yourself are oppressed. I’m not the person raped in a detention camp. I’m not the fisherman executed…”
— From Allen’s alleged manifesto, as quoted by the New York Post
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed on NBC’s Meet the Press that investigators believe Allen specifically targeted Trump administration officials, “likely including the President.” Trump himself, speaking on Fox News Sunday morning, said Allen had written a manifesto and that “he hates Christians, that’s one thing for sure. He hates Christians, a hatred.” FBI agents are currently examining Allen’s electronics, writings, and social media accounts, where investigators found anti-Trump and anti-Christian rhetoric.
Who He Is
Allen is a 31-year-old teacher and video game developer from Torrance, a suburb of Los Angeles. He graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 2017 with an engineering degree and later earned a master’s in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills in 2025. He legally purchased multiple firearms before the attack, including two handguns and a shotgun, according to Bloomberg and law enforcement officials.
Authorities say he is connected to a group called “The Wide Awakes,” though the full nature of that connection is still under investigation. His sister, interviewed by authorities at the family’s home in Rockville, Maryland, told investigators her brother had “a history of making extreme statements” and had recently talked about plans to do “something.” She also said the firearms were stored at their parents’ home without their knowledge. Officials say Allen regularly visited shooting ranges and had training with firearms.
Shooter: Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California — alive, arrested, in federal custody
Background: Caltech ’17, CSU Dominguez Hills MS ’25, teacher, video game developer
Weapons: Shotgun, handgun, multiple knives — all legally purchased
Manifesto: Called himself a “Friendly Federal Assassin.” Listed Trump officials as targets by rank.
Route: Traveled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago to Washington, D.C.
Hotel: Checked into the Washington Hilton on April 24, the night before the dinner
Attack: 8:36 PM ET, charged Secret Service checkpoint with shotgun and handgun
Injuries: One Secret Service agent shot — saved by ballistic vest, released from hospital
Charges: Expected Monday — using a firearm during a crime of violence, assault on a federal officer
Group: Connected to “The Wide Awakes” — under investigation
The Family Warning That Came Too Late
Allen sent written material to family members shortly before the attack. His brother contacted police in New London, Connecticut, just minutes before the shooting took place. According to the White House, the family alerted authorities, but by the time that information could have been relayed through the chain, Allen was already charging the checkpoint.
Trump himself acknowledged the warning. Asked on Fox News whether he knew Allen’s brother had contacted the New London Police Department about a manifesto sent to family members, Trump said he “heard” about it and wished “they would have told us about it a little bit.” Then: “But it is what it is.”
That’s the summary of this country’s threat-response system in 2026. A man writes a manifesto calling himself an assassin, sends it to his family, takes a train across the country, checks into the target hotel with a shotgun and a handgun — and his brother’s call to police arrives minutes too late.
The Ironic Prelude
Before the shooting, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt appeared on Fox News to preview the dinner. “He is ready to rumble,” she said of Trump. “His speech will be classic Donald J. Trump. It will be funny and entertaining. There will be some shots fired in the room tonight.” The clip went viral within hours of the attack.
Leavitt was speaking figuratively. Obviously. But the timing made it the most unfortunately chosen metaphor in modern White House communications history.
Third Time in Two Years
This is the latest in a series of security incidents involving President Trump. In July 2024, a gunman shot him during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, wounding his ear and killing a rally attendee. In September 2024, a man was arrested at his West Palm Beach golf course with a rifle. In February 2026, a man with a shotgun and gas can was killed breaching the Mar-a-Lago perimeter. Now this.
The pattern is not subtle. The Secret Service has been under sustained scrutiny for communication gaps and lapses in security planning. The WHCA dinner checkpoint held. Allen was stopped before reaching the ballroom. The agent who was shot survived because of his vest. By the thinnest of margins, this was a near-miss instead of a catastrophe.
But the system didn’t prevent it. A man with a kill list, a manifesto, and a shotgun made it from California to the Washington Hilton without a single red flag tripping before his brother’s last-minute phone call. That’s not a success story. That’s a near-miss dressed up as one.
What Happens Monday
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said charges will be filed Monday. Expected charges include using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon. The FBI investigation is ongoing, and search warrants have been executed on Allen’s devices, his hotel room at the Washington Hilton, and his residence in California.
The full contents of the manifesto have not been publicly released. The investigation into Allen’s connection to “The Wide Awakes” is in its early stages. This story is not over.
Correction: An earlier post on this site incorrectly reported the shooter was killed. He was arrested and is alive. We regret the error.
Sources
- TIME: “What We Know About Cole Tomas Allen, the Suspected WHCA Dinner Shooter.” Manifesto called himself “Friendly Federal Assassin.” Targeted officials “prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest.” Charges expected Monday. Blanche confirmed targeting Trump officials. Allen traveled by train from LA. April 26, 2026.
- Los Angeles Times: “What we know about Cole Tomas Allen, Torrance teacher suspected in WHCD shooting.” FBI examining electronics and writings. Two federal sources confirmed manifesto under investigation. Trump said manifesto showed “he hates Christians.” Brother contacted New London PD. Allen traveled via Chicago by train. April 26, 2026.
- KATV / The National News Desk: “Who is Cole Tomas Allen?” Sister told authorities about history of extreme statements and plans to do “something.” Firearms purchased and stored at parents’ home. Connected to “The Wide Awakes.” Family alerted authorities minutes before. April 26, 2026.
- Times Now: “What is The Wide Awakes? Group WHCD Shooting Suspect Cole Tomas Allen Alleged To Be Part Of.” Allen linked to the group per law enforcement sources. Caltech ’17, CSUDH MS ’25. Checked into Washington Hilton day before. Armed with shotgun, handgun, multiple knives. April 26, 2026.
- India Today: “Trump aide’s eerie ‘shots will be fired’ remark before White House event shooting.” Leavitt’s Fox News interview minutes before the attack went viral. Full quote: “There will be some shots fired in the room tonight.” April 26, 2026.
- Hindustan Times: Leavitt “shots will be fired” remark resurfaced. Confirmed Trump, First Lady, VP Vance all evacuated. Secret Service agent injury confirmed. April 26, 2026.
- Related EOH coverage: Shooter Dead at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Trump Evacuated by Secret Service. (April 25, 2026 — initial emergency report, now corrected above)