Correspondents’ dinner gunman identified as Torrance man; reporters visit suspect’s home

Citing federal law enforcement sources, the Associated Press identified the alleged White House Correspondents’ Assn. dinner gunman as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, who has ties to the L.A. County city of Torrance.

A law enforcement official who was not authorized to speak publicly about the active investigation also identified Allen as the suspect to The Times and said he was believed to be from Torrance.

A Times reporter went to an address in Torrance outside the home where Allen is believed to have lived. The residence is a two-story multi-gabled house with a two-car garage and tall hedges.

A man who responded to a knock on the front door said, “Not right now,” and declined to comment further.

A gaggle of reporters and neighbors loitered around filming the scene as a helicopter hovered overhead.

Colin, a 39-year-old neighbor who declined to give his last name, citing privacy concerns, said he’d only known the residents of the home since he moved in six months ago.

“It’s tragic,” he said. “There’s no need for violence in this day and age.”

Another man, 50, who lives across the street and did not disclose his name, said of the family next door: “We see them every day and we just say hi and they’re very nice.”

“They’re peaceful people, they don’t make any noise and when they see you they say hi.”

“I don’t know what’s going on inside,” he added.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is closely monitoring the evolving situation following the reports of shots fired during the White House Correspondents’ Assn. dinner.

“We are in communication with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners and will continue to assess any potential impacts to Los Angeles County,” the Sheriff’s Department said. “Currently, there are no known credible threats to our community.”

Jeffery Carroll, interim metropolitan police chief in D.C. said Cole had a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives.

He is believed to be a lone gunman, Carroll said.

U.S. Atty. for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said the suspect in the shooting is being charged with two counts of using a firearm and one count of assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.

Pirro said Cole will be arraigned Monday.