On Saturday, April 25, at the high security Washington Hilton hotel, the White House correspondents dinner was interrupted by a violent incident. NBC News said Cole Thomas Allen, a former teacher and engineer from California, allegedly tried to rush a security checkpoint. Police reported and accused him of being armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knives, while exchanging gunfire with law enforcement.
Wolf Blitzer from CBS News said, “It was just a split-second thing. Everybody started running, and the security just swarmed the area immediately. It was terrifying because you didn’t know how many people were involved.”
During the struggle, a secret service agent was hit by a bullet, and he was saved by his own bulletproof vest. The security teams moved quickly to tackle the suspect and take him into custody. President Trump and other officials were in the building but were moved to safety and were not hurt.
CBS News said Cole Thomas Allen has never had any previous criminal records. Before the attack, he had reportedly written a long letter explaining that he was angry at the government. His family noticed him making many comments lately, and his brother even called the police on him after reading his letter.
Sophomore Mariam El Baroudi said, “I think the fact that he was a successful teacher and engineer makes my point of view kind of different because he is a type of person I wouldn’t expect to do something like that.”
This event had a major impact on the environment around Washington. Security is much tighter at big hotels and government buildings. People that live in the city say that there are more police officers and checkpoints than usual. It has also made citizens feel less safe around the environment. Leaders are now discussing how to stop attacks before they happen.
Sophomore Serenity Webster said, “I think releasing a suspect’s platform can give them the attention they want more than people understanding the crime because sometimes criminals do the most just to get attention and fame but it is never really worth it.”
El Pais said the incident is also affecting how the news is reported. Many people are debating whether to share the suspect’s manifesto because they don’t want to encourage other people to do the same thing. For now, the city is focused on healing and making sure that events can be held safely in the future. CBS News said Cole Thomas Allen was charged with attempting to assassinate the president, transportation of firearms, and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence.
