New Details on White House Shooting: Suspect Speaks Out

A 31-year-old resident of Torrance, California, Cole Thomas Allen, was armed with a hunting rifle, a pistol, and knives during the incident. CBS News reports that he likely acted alone and was a guest at the Washington Hilton hotel.

After his arrest, Allen told authorities that he intended to shoot officials from the Trump administration. The suspect did not indicate that his target was Trump specifically, but only mentioned members of the administration.

It is noteworthy that Allen graduated in 2017 from the California Institute of Technology with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and earned a master's degree from California State University, Dominguez Hills last year.

Following the incident, Donald Trump stated he wanted to continue the event but law enforcement insisted on canceling the dinner. He compared the sound of the gunfire to a falling platter, but noted that the incident was quite traumatic for Melania Trump. The U.S. President praised the quick actions of law enforcement and promised to hold the event on another day.