Exclusive | Dem DA whose sign is on WHCD shooter Cole Allen’s front lawn speaks out — revealing close ties to the family

A Los Angeles County deputy district attorney has revealed he is close friends with the parents of the gunman snared at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

Paul Thompson, a Democratic major crimes division prosecutor, told the California Post he lives next door to the family but said Cole Allen “pretty much kept to himself.”

He said the Caltech-educated gunman, who is accused of trying to storm the doors just yards away from President Trump, still lived with his parents at the address in Torrance.

Allen, 31, allegedly rushed a security checkpoint and fired a shotgun inside the Washington Hilton on Saturday night during the annual event but was thwarted by agents.

Hours later, the FBI descended on his family home in SoCal, where neighbors watched as armored vehicles and tactical teams swarmed the quiet residential street.

Thompson, who is running for a judicial seat on the county Superior Court and had a campaign sign on the Allens’ front lawn, said he has lived next to the family for a couple of years.

He told the Post: “I didn’t really know the guy that’s accused of committing the crimes in DC last night. I know his parents. Obviously we’ve been neighbors for a couple of years.”

He described Allen’s parents as “pretty normal, non-violent and friendly,” adding he may have interacted with them earlier the same day as the shooting.

Thompson said a campaign sign bearing his name was placed on the family’s lawn with the father’s permission.

He continued: “I’m friends with his father. I know them to be really nonviolent and peaceful people and solid citizens and residents of our neighborhood here.”

Investigators believe Allen may have been targeting high-ranking government officials.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the suspect appeared to be aiming at members of the administration attending the dinner, which was also attended by Trump, the First Lady, Vice President JD Vance and other senior officials.

Follow the latest on the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner:

All were safely evacuated after the gunfire erupted. Authorities are also reviewing writings allegedly linked to Allen that suggest he intended to attack government figures.

Sources say he traveled from Southern California to Washington DC in the days leading up to the incident.

Back in Torrance, neighbors expressed shock at the allegations, describing little interaction with Allen and no clear warning signs.

“The one interaction I had was like, maybe he could be on the spectrum,” one neighbor told reporters.

Allen, who worked for a tutoring and test prep company, had previously been recognized professionally, including being named “teacher of the month” in late 2024, according to social media posts.

The investigation remains ongoing as federal agents continue to search the Torrance property and piece together a motive behind the attack.

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