DC Shooting Suspect's Family Warned CT Police Before Attack

New London police played an unexpected role in Saturday night’s chaos at the Washington Hilton, after the brother of the man accused of opening fire at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner contacted the department with information about his sibling’s state of mind.

Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old from Torrance, California, is accused of attempting to breach a security checkpoint at the dinner while carrying multiple firearms and knives. Authorities are treating the attack as politically motivated, and investigators have described his writings and social media presence as some of the most direct evidence yet of his alleged intentions.

Allen sent a message of more than 1,000 words to family members in the minutes before shots were fired Saturday night. The writings, reviewed by the Associated Press, referred to Allen as a “Friendly Federal Assassin,” made repeated references to Donald Trump without naming him directly, and cited grievances against a range of administration policies, including U.S. military strikes on vessels accused of drug smuggling in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

The message opened with what the AP described as a jarring “hello everybody!” before veering into apologies to family members, co-workers and strangers Allen feared might be caught in the violence. The note moved between confession, political anger, religious justifications and farewell. Allen also mocked the security arrangements at the Washington Hilton, expressing surprise that he was able to enter the hotel armed without detection.

After receiving the writings, Allen’s brother, who is based in New London, contacted the city’s police department at 10:49 p.m. Saturday. New London Police Chief Brian M. Wright confirmed in a press release that his department received a call from “an individual who expressed concern about the incident that occurred earlier in the evening,” adding that the caller “wanted to share information they believed to be pertinent to the matter.” New London officers then contacted federal authorities, who conducted their own interview with the brother.

Allen’s sister, who lives in Maryland, separately told investigators that her brother had legally purchased several weapons from a California gun store and stored them at their parents’ Torrance home without their parents’ knowledge. She described Allen as someone prone to making radical statements, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.

Investigators have also identified what one official described as numerous anti-Trump social media posts linked to Allen, adding to a picture of a man who spent considerable time nursing political grievances before allegedly acting on them at one of Washington’s most high-profile annual events.

The case raises questions that will likely echo through ongoing debates about political violence and threat assessment. Allen’s family members clearly had concerns, and at least one acted on them, though the call to New London police came after the shots had already been fired. Whether earlier intervention was possible, and what systems exist to flag individuals who show the kind of warning signs Allen’s family apparently observed, will likely become central questions as the investigation moves forward.

For New London, a city more accustomed to making news for its ongoing waterfront development disputes and school budget fights than for connections to federal criminal investigations, the moment represents an unusual chapter. Chief Wright’s statement was brief and procedural, as it should be at this stage, but the department’s quick handoff to federal authorities reflects how seriously local police treated the call.

The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, a fixture of the Washington press calendar, draws journalists, politicians and celebrities each spring. Security at the Washington Hilton for the event is typically substantial. That Allen allegedly believed the precautions were inadequate, and said so in writing before the attack, will almost certainly prompt a hard review of what protocols were in place and where gaps existed.

Federal authorities have not announced formal charges as of Sunday afternoon, but the investigation is moving quickly. Allen remains in custody.