‘It was the only way’: What D.C. shooter’s statement reveals about the White House attack
The suspect in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting, identified as Cole Allen, sent a lengthy 1,052-word statement to his family members minutes before launching the attack, detailing his motives, intended targets and plan of operations.Signed “Cole ‘coldForce’ ‘Friendly Federal Assassin’ Allen,” the letter began with a series of apologies.“I may have surprised a lot of people today… I apologize to my parents… my colleagues, my students… and all the other untargeted people… I put in danger,” he wrote, according to the New York Post.He added: “I don’t expect forgiveness, but if I could have seen any other way to get this close, I would have chosen it.”
Targeting “administrative officials”
Allen stated that he viewed the attack as a “duty”, and wrote that he was “no longer willing to let the crimes of ‘American leadership’ cover my hands.”“On why I’m doing any of this: I’m a citizen of the United States of America. What my representatives do reflects back on me. And I’m no longer willing to let a pedophile, rapist, and traitor taint my hands with his crimes. (Well, to be completely honest, I haven’t wanted to in a long time, but this is the first real chance I’ve had to do something about it).”
He planned to target administration officials “in order of priority from highest to lowest,” explicitly excluding one official — “Mr. Patel,” a reference to FBI chief Kash Patel.ALSO READ: Kash Patel seen ‘swiping his phone’ as agents rush guests from DC shooting over TrumpHis statement laid out “rules of engagement,” explaining that Secret Service employees would be targeted “only if necessary,” preferably “non-lethally,” while hotel staff, guests, and employees were “absolutely not targets.”But he added that he would still “check with everyone here to reach the goals if it is absolutely necessary.”In order to “minimize casualties,” Allen said he chose buckshot instead of slugs, noting that it would reduce wall penetration.
Justifications and responses
The document included sections addressing anticipated criticisms.He wrote in response to a religious objection: “Turning the other cheek… when you are oppressed… and turning the other cheek when someone else is wronged… is complicity.”He also dismissed concerns about timing and identity, saying, “This was the best timing and chance of success I could have come up with,” and “I don’t see anyone else making up for it.”
Final messages and security criticisms
Allen concluded his speech with messages of thanks to family, friends, colleagues and students, before beginning to criticize the security arrangements at the venue.“What the hell is the Secret Service doing?…There’s no security, no transportation.
Not in the hotel. “Not in this case,” he wrote, adding that he was able to get in with weapons undetected. He claimed that if he had been a foreign agent, he could have brought in heavier weapons without being detected.Read also: Cole Thomas Allen wanted to ‘fix the world,’ says D.C. shooter’s sister after attempted attack on TrumpHe concluded by describing the emotional impact of the act, “It’s horrible. I want to throw up… I can’t really recommend it! Stay in school, kids.”
The attack and its aftermath
Allen attacked a security checkpoint armed with a rifle, handgun and knives.
Law enforcement sources said Allen’s brother notified police after receiving the statement, while additional writings were found at his home in California and a hotel room in Washington.The attack caused chaos at the ceremony attended by President Donald Trump and senior officials, who were evacuated when gunfire broke out. The event was canceled shortly after.The incident represents the latest episode of political violence in the United States, as more than 2,500 people attended the high-profile event when the shooting occurred.“We live in a crazy world,” Trump later said, reflecting on the incident.
