Washington DC [US], April 27 (ANI): US President Donald Trump strongly condemned the suspect behind the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, describing him as a “sick” and “radicalised” individual, while firmly rejecting allegations contained in the attacker’s manifesto.
The incident, which unfolded on Saturday evening at the Washington Hilton, caused panic at one of Washington’s most high-profile gatherings attended by senior political leaders, journalists, and officials, including Vice President JD Vance and First Lady Melania Trump.
Authorities identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, a resident of Torrance, California. According to investigators and reports cited by CNN, Allen allegedly stormed a security checkpoint armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives. He reportedly exchanged fire with law enforcement before being subdued by the United States Secret Service. He was taken into custody and transported to a hospital for evaluation; officials confirmed he was not struck by gunfire.
One Secret Service agent sustained injuries during the incident and was hospitalised, though later reports indicated the officer is recovering and in stable condition. All key attendees, including the President, Vice President, and First Lady, were safely evacuated.
Suspect Background and Investigation
According to public records and investigative sources, Allen had worked as both a teacher and an independent video game developer. A LinkedIn profile matching his identity indicated he was employed part-time at C2 Education and had previously been recognised as “teacher of the month” in December 2024. He graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 2017 with a degree in mechanical engineering and later earned a master’s degree in computer science from California State University Dominguez Hills.
Allen had also developed an independent video game titled Bohrdom and was reportedly working on another project. Federal Election Commission records show he made a small political donation to a presidential campaign in October 2024.
Authorities believe he acted alone. Interim Metropolitan Police Chief Jeffrey Carroll confirmed that investigators secured a room linked to the suspect and are examining its contents, along with his electronic devices, travel history, and personal associations.
US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro stated that Allen faces charges including using a firearm during a crime of violence and assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon. He is expected to be produced in court.
Manifesto and Motive
Officials, including Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, said preliminary findings suggest the suspect may have been targeting members of the Trump administration. Investigators are still working to determine a clear motive.
The suspect reportedly authored a manifesto accusing government officials of serious crimes and expressing extremist grievances. During interviews with CBS News and Fox News, Trump reacted sharply when excerpts were read aloud.
“I read the manifesto. You know, he’s a sick person,” Trump said. “But you should be ashamed of yourself for reading that because I’m not any of those things.”
He explicitly denied the accusations, stating, “I’m not a rapist… I’m not a paedophile,” and asserted that he had been “totally exonerated,” while suggesting that scrutiny should instead be directed toward political opponents.
Trump also described the suspect as having undergone ideological changes and exhibiting signs of instability. “He was radicalised… He was a Christian believer, and then he became an anti-Christian,” Trump said, adding that the suspect’s family had reportedly expressed concerns to law enforcement.
In a separate interview, the President claimed the attacker harboured “strongly anti-Christian” views, stating, “He had a lot of hatred in his heart… it was a religious thing… strongly anti-Christian.”
Trump Recounts Moment of Chaos
Trump also recounted the tense moments during the shooting, noting that First Lady Melania Trump quickly realised the seriousness of the situation as gunfire erupted.
“I wasn’t worried. We live in a crazy world,” Trump said. “She realised ahead of time that that was more of a bullet than it was a tray,” referring to the moment the First Lady understood the sounds were gunshots.
The President acknowledged initially hesitating as security personnel moved to evacuate him. “I wanted to see what was happening… I wasn’t making it that easy for them,” he said, before recognising the severity of the threat, describing it as “a bad problem, a different kind of problem.”
Response and Aftermath
Trump praised the swift response of the Secret Service, stating, “Those guys did a good job last night. They did a really good job.”
The shooting briefly disrupted the annual event but was quickly contained. Authorities continue to investigate the suspect’s motives, background, and any warning signs leading up to the attack. (ANI)
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