Cole Thomas Allen, 31, a teacher and engineer from Torrance, California, is the man arrested after the armed attack in front of the White House Correspondents' Room, a prestigious event attended by prominent figures in the Trump administration, including the president.
Allen, who was armed with a sniper rifle, a pistol and knives, clashed with officers and was neutralized after an exchange of gunfire.
In a letter he sent to his family before the attack, Allen apologized for his actions, expressing anger and disgust at the Trump administration, and cited the act as a “duty” he felt needed to be carried out. He wrote that he had drawn up specific rules for attacks on administration officials, ranking them from highest to lowest.
Allen said he felt "there was a lot of arrogance in the room where the meeting was being held."
According to him, due to his arrogance, he himself was allowed to carry a weapon and was not properly searched. A senior administration official called Allen a “lone wolf” and said that he had traveled by train from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., and had stayed at the hotel where the event was being held.
As the investigation continues, friends and associates have described Allen as a highly intelligent person with a dangerous penchant for making radical statements. He had worked in video game development and was named "Teacher of the Month" in 2024, tutoring high school students.
In a later interview, Allen's sister described him as a person who carried concealed weapons and had strong anti-Trump leanings.