Incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner
The shooter involved in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner obtained firearms from two stores in California in the lead-up to the incident.
Cole Allen acquired a Maverick 12-gauge pump-action shotgun from Turner’s Outdoorsman in Torrance last August and an Armscall semi-automatic pistol from CAP Tactical Firearms in Lawndale in October 2023.
He faces charges of assault and battery against a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, as well as firearm-related charges after allegedly attempting to breach a dinner party in Washington, D.C., last night.
Investigators reported that Allen was found with a shotgun, a pistol, and a knife when police apprehended him just moments after the attempted break-in.
Authorities also revealed that he stored weapons at his parents’ home in Torrance and frequently trained at a local shooting range.
Turner’s Outdoorsman, situated near the suspect’s family residence, promotes itself online as a blend of “Texas freedom, California style.” They offer a variety of outdoor products in addition to a range of firearms.
The store is managed by Jesse Sanchez, while the overall operation is led by CEO Brian Harris. Meanwhile, the pistol was purchased from CAP Tactical Firearms, a family-run business operated by Bill Mullen in Lawndale.
Mullen, who started his shop a decade ago, sells various firearms, ammunition, and tactical gear from a modest location on Hawthorne Avenue. He has previously mentioned his desire to counter the negative perceptions surrounding gun ownership, stating, “It’s sometimes difficult to remind people that not everyone who owns a firearm is a criminal.”
He emphasized the store’s commitment to the Second Amendment rights and highlighted the principles of sport and self-defense behind their business. CAP Tactical claims to follow strict background checks and licensing regulations. Efforts to reach Mullen for comment were unsuccessful.
Mullen described his store as a small, family-oriented firearms retailer focused on providing personalized service and educating new shooters, aiming to promote family involvement in the sport.
Just minutes before the shooting at Saturday’s event, Allen sent a manifesto to his family.
In a 1,052-word letter obtained on Sunday, the 31-year-old labeled himself a “friendly federal assassin” and expressed intentions to target officials from the Trump administration.
The event was attended by President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and various Cabinet members among the approximately 2,500 guests. When gunfire erupted, attendees quickly evacuated the area.
In the chaos, a Secret Service agent was shot in the vest, and Allen, without a shirt, was apprehended in the lobby of the Washington Hilton Hotel shortly after.
