Suspected gunman told family he may have given 'a lot of people a surprise' in writings before shooting

The suspected gunman at the White House press dinner sent a note to members of his family before the shooting, according to Sky News' US partner network, NBC News.

In it, Cole Allen, 31, apologised to his parents, as well as colleagues and bystanders, for what he was about to do.

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He said: "I apologise to everyone... who suffered before I was able to attempt this, to all who may still suffer after, regardless of my success or failure."

He said he may have given "a lot of people a surprise today", and although he did not name Donald Trump directly in the writings, he did criticise him and mentioned targeting the administration.

Explaining why he was going to do what he intended to do, he said "what my representatives do reflects on me", adding that "this is the first real opportunity I've had to do something about it".

Read more:
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In the message, he said administration officials were targets, as were Secret Service agents "only if necessary, and to be incapacitated non-lethally if possible".

He said hotel guests and employees were "not targets at all" and that Capitol police, National Guard and hotel security were not targets "unless they shoot at me".

He said: "In order to minimise casualties, I will also be using buckshot rather than slugs (less penetration through walls)", but added he "would still go through most everyone here to get to the targets if it were absolutely necessary".

He also said he did not "expect forgiveness", before criticising the security at the hotel, and signing off with the name Cole "coldForce" "Friendly Federal Assassin" Allen.

(c) Sky News 2026: Suspected gunman told family he may have given 'a lot of people a surprise' in writings