Who is Cole Allen? — California man linked to Trump shooting explained

Cole Allen, the 31-year-old man in US custody following the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, has been described by President Donald Trump as a "very sick person."

A resident of Torrance, California, Allen is a highly educated computer scientist who reportedly appeared in the May 2025 commencement programme at California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Before his arrest, he had worked as a teacher with a private tutoring service, where he was named "Teacher of the Month" in late 2024.

The 'Friendly Federal Assassin' manifesto

According to investigators, Allen travelled to Washington by train from Los Angeles via Chicago, checking into the Washington Hilton the day before the attack.

He reportedly left behind a written manifesto, titling himself the "Friendly Federal Assassin."

In the document, he outlined a plan to target administration officials by rank.

Allen specifically mentioned using buckshot to "minimise casualties through walls" and reportedly shared portions of these writings with his family before the incident.

The 'lone wolf' theory

Allen legally purchased a 38-calibre pistol in 2023 and a 12-gauge shotgun in 2025 from stores in southern California.

On the night of the gala, he reportedly rushed a magnetometer screening area armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and several knives.

During the struggle, one officer was shot at close range but survived thanks to his bulletproof vest.

While the FBI continued to review social media accounts containing anti-Trump and anti-Christian rhetoric, the President noted that law enforcement believes Allen acted as a "lone wolf."

Allen remains under evaluation at a hospital and is expected to face federal charges on Monday.

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Source: TRT