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Pistol in 2023, shotgun in 2025: Trump dinner shooting suspect Cole Tomas Allen's weapon purchase history
The article outlines Cole Tomas Allen's weapon purchases, noting an Armscor semi-automatic pistol in October 2023 and a Maverick 12-gauge pump-action shotgun in August 2025. It also discusses the Washington, D.C. WHCD shooting, including planning, travel, a manifesto, and the targeting of Trump administration officials.
Why It Matters
The piece raises questions about gun purchases linked to a high-profile political event and the security around such events.
Timeline
3 Events
WHCD shooting in Washington, D.C. (attack linked to Allen)
April 2026
Allen opened fire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., with investigators noting the shooting followed months of planning. The article states his targets included Trump administration officials (prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest, excluding FBI Director Kash Patel) and that he had sent a manifesto to family members prior to the attack. It also notes he traveled by Amtrak to reach Washington and stayed at the Washington Hilton for several days before the event, and it references prior security concerns and a lax security perception noted in his manifesto.
Shotgun purchase (Maverick 12-gauge pump-action) in August 2025
August 2025
Allen bought a Maverick 12-gauge pump-action shotgun in August 2025 from Turner’s Outdoorsman in Torrance, California, according to Bloomberg.
Pistol purchase (Armscor semi-automatic) in October 2023
October 2023
Allen purchased an Armscor semi-automatic pistol in October 2023, according to Bloomberg.