A new development has emerged from the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting incident, after details from the suspect's manifesto surfaced. According to reports, the gunman, Cole Tomas Allen, stated in a message sent to his family shortly before the attack that FBI Director Kash Patel was not among his intended targets.
Allen, 31, had arrived at the Washington Hilton armed with multiple weapons. The hotel was hosting the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night when he opened fire. Minutes earlier, he sent a manifesto to his family members outlining his plan to target Trump administration officials. However, he explicitly excluded Patel from the list.
ALSO READ: 'I Wasn't Making It Easy': Trump On White House Shooting Evacuation
"Administration officials (not including [FBI Director Kash] Patel): they are targets, prioritised from highest-ranking to lowest," Allen wrote. The reason why the suspect chose to exclude Patel from his list was not clear, NDTV reported.
What Happened At The Event?
Panic broke out at the high-profile event after at least five to eight gunshots were fired. Soon after the incident, videos from the incident showed Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Cabinet officials being rushed out by security officials. Later, Trump also posted CCTV footage that showed a person running past security officers, who then chased him.
According to Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche, even as shots were heard and panic spread at the site, the gunman “didn't get very far.” “He barely broke the perimeter,” Blanche said, adding that the California-based suspect likely travelled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago before reaching Washington. There are also reports that he assembled the weapon in the hotel, which is now being probed by the officials.
The report added that the gunman planned to exclude Patel followed amid a separate controversy linked to the Indian-origin top US official. Hours before, a report emerged that Patel may face possible removal from the Trump administration.
ALSO READ: PM Modi Reacts To Donald Trump Assassination Attempt
Citing a White House official, POLITICO reported, “It's only a matter of time”, hinting that the FBI director could be fired anytime. Patel, known for his 2024 MAGA campaign role, is mired in controversies linked to his drinking problems.
Essential Business Intelligence, Continuous LIVE TV, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
