Leaders call for condemnation of shooting at White House Correspondents Dinner
World leaders condemned the violence and showed support for President Trump following the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
The man suspected of opening fire at the April 25 White House Correspondents’ Association dinner appeared on Los Angeles TV news in 2017 demonstrating a prototype wheelchair.
Cole Thomas Allen, who has not been formally identified by authorities but whose identity was told to USA TODAY by a federal law enforcement official familiar with the investigation on April 26, appeared on a KABC-TV segment about an invention conference aimed at improving the lives of seniors.
Mr. Allen demonstrated a wheelchair emergency brake prototype he developed during the segment. USA TODAY has reached out to KABC-TV for comment.
Allen’s LinkedIn account shows a post that says he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from California Institute of Technology in 2017. Caltech spokeswoman Kathy Svitil previously acknowledged the records of an undergraduate named Cole Allen, who graduated in 2017, but declined to release further information.
Authorities allege Cole charged into the Washington Hilton security checkpoint with multiple weapons before gunshots rang out, injuring a Secret Service agent. President Donald Trump attended the dinner for the first time as president. The event was also attended by several distinguished guests, including Cabinet members and Vice President J.D. Vance.
Authorities say suspect is not cooperating
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced on April 26 that the 31-year-old suspect will be charged with multiple charges related to the April 27 shooting.
In an interview with CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” Blanche said law enforcement is still gathering information on how the gunman obtained the gun found at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner and that the suspect is “not actively cooperating” with authorities.
Blanche told “Fox News Sunday” and NBC News that investigators are looking into the suspect’s emails and other posts. He did not elaborate on what authorities have revealed so far.
A senior law enforcement official briefed on the investigation on both coasts told USA TODAY on April 26 that the FBI is leading the criminal investigation into the shooting, and the Secret Service is focusing on the suspect’s behavioral profile.
That includes what exactly triggered this man, what brought him to Washington, and whether there is a potential risk of additional attacks, as is often the case after a presidential assassination attempt.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity. He was not authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing investigation involving federal authorities and police in Washington, D.C., where the suspect lived, and the Los Angeles suburb of Torrance, California.
Possible triggers being considered include the Trump administration’s response to the Iran war, rising gas and other prices, or personal animosity toward the president’s administration, the person said. Sources told USA TODAY that for now, authorities don’t know the answers to those questions. But officials said the investigation is making progress, obtaining subpoenas and searching for digital evidence through such means as suspects’ phones and other electronic devices.
