Man Charges White House, Injures Agent

It's April 27.

From your city to your ears, this is California News Today, powered by AI.

I'm Corey with the story.

A 31-year-old man from Torrance, California, named Cole Thomas Allen, is accused of charging

the White House correspondence dinner on.

Saturday night, firing shots as he rushed toward the ballroom at the Washington Hilton.

Secret Service agents tackled him fast after he got past security and shot at one of their

own, who had minor injuries thanks to a bulletproof vest.

Officials say the system held up, keeping top leaders like the president safe.

Allen was packing a shotgun, handgun, and several knives, all bought legally in California

and stashed at his parents' place without their knowledge.

Right before the attack, he messaged family calling himself out to target, high-ranking

officials in order of rank, saying he pushed through the crowd, if needed.

His brother tipped off police two hours later, but it was too late to stop it.

Two new Allen paint him as smart and chill, a Caltech mechanical engineering grad from

2017, with a master's last year working as a tutor and indie game developer.

His employer called the new shocking and is helping investigators, while students he

tutored said he seemed totally normal and friendly.

No political party ties show up in his records.

Now, federal teams are digging deep, raiding his family home in Torrance with FBI swarming

the scene late Saturday.

They're piecing together his path, checking videos on how he slipped in with the guns.

Allen's recovering from a knee injury in custody, facing court Monday on assault and firearm

charges, with more likely coming.

Investigators stressed this was a clear intent to cause maximum harm, but quick action

shut it down, staying tuned as they uncover more on what drove him, there.