California Home Becomes Key in Investigation of White House Dinner Shooting
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
A neighborhood in Torrance, California, became the focus of an overnight investigation as law enforcement officials searched a residence believed to be the home of a man accused of firing shots near the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C. Secret Service and FBI agents inspected a house in South Bay to gather evidence against Cole Tomas Allen, 31, who allegedly exchanged gunfire with authorities on Saturday after breaching a security checkpoint during the dinner, prompting the evacuation of President Donald Trump and other high-ranking officials. Video footage from Torrance showed a cordoned-off neighborhood as investigators meticulously searched Allen’s home and vehicles parked in the driveway. Federal and local agencies worked through the night, leaving the property around 7 a.m. Sunday. Max Harris, who said he had taken private lessons from Allen, expressed shock upon learning of his arrest, describing Allen as a “normal, friendly guy.” Erik Orre, a resident of the neighborhood, also voiced surprise at the investigation in the typically quiet area. Allen, who was a NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory intern in 2014, acted alone and was staying at the Washington Hilton, where the gala took place. He was subdued and arrested after a shootout with police, injuring a Secret Service agent. Authorities recovered legally purchased firearms, including a 12-gauge Maverick shotgun and a.38-caliber Armscor Precision semi-automatic pistol. A note allegedly written by Allen revealed anger toward the Trump administration and identified government officials as his targets. Allen faces charges including using a firearm during a violent crime and assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon. He is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.