Cole Tomas Allen, the suspect in the attempted attack on the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, sent a disturbing manifesto to family members minutes before he opened fire outlining his intention to target officials in the Donald Trump administration, according to a report that cited a US official.
Authorities said Allen sent a message roughly 10 minutes before the attack began, identifying himself as a “friendly federal killer” and declaring his intent to carry out violence.
“Turning the other cheek when someone else is oppressed is not Christian behavior; it is complicity in the crimes of the oppressor,” Allen wrote in a document shared with police, according to The New York Post.
He listed “administrative officials” among his main targets, adding that they were to be “preferred from the highest to the lowest”.
Explicit threats to officials
The manifesto contained direct and alarming threats, including references to targeting high-ranking members of the administration.
“I am no longer willing to allow a pedophile, a rapist and a traitor to torment me with his crimes,” Allen wrote, apparently referring to the president.
He also said he was prepared to escalate violence if necessary.
“I would still go through most everyone here to get to the objectives if absolutely necessary,” he stated, indicating a willingness to inflict mass casualties.
Weapon selection and intent
Allen detailed his weapon selection in the report, claiming he intended to reduce unintended damage while still tracking his targets.
“I will also use shot rather than slugs to minimize casualties,” he wrote, while acknowledging the potential for wider violence should he be impeded.
The suspect criticized security deficiencies
In an impressive section of the manifesto, Allen criticized security measures at the Washington Hilton, where the high-profile event took place.
“I walk in with many weapons and not one person there considers the possibility that I could be a threat,” he wrote.
He added that security appears to focus primarily on external threats, leaving vulnerabilities at the venue.
“Security at the event is out … this level of incompetence is insane,” Allen said.
Links to foreign threats
Allen also mentioned hypothetical foreign actors exploiting similar security loopholes.
“If I were an Iranian agent… I could bring the damn Ma Deuce here and no one would notice,” he wrote, referring to the heavy machine gun.
Attack and aftermath
The manifesto emerged as investigators pieced together the sequence of events that led to the attempted attack on the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner, one of Washington’s most prominent gatherings of political leaders, media and officials.
Allen’s note, signed “Cole ‘coldForce’ ‘Friendly Federal Assassin’ Allen,” is now a key piece of evidence as authorities assess his motive, planning and potential security lapses.
Ongoing investigation
Officials continue to investigate how the suspect was able to approach the incident with weapons.
The case raised new concerns about security protocols at major political events and the evolving threat posed by lone actors targeting government officials.
