New London Police say they were contacted by an individual who expressed concern about the incident that occurred at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner Saturday evening.
That person was the brother of the suspect, Cole Allen, a senior administration official told NBC News.
He told police he wanted to share information he believed was pertinent to the incident.
New London police contacted federal law enforcement officials, and the brother was interviewed by both New London police and federal authorities.
According to New London police, the case has been turned over to federal law enforcement agencies and they will work to ensure public safety.
Allen’s brother notified police in Connecticut after the suspect in last night’s shooting sent family members his writings, the senior administration official told NBC News.
The official characterized the writing as displaying anti-Trump sentiment and describes his targets as administration officials, not guests or hotel employees. Allen apologizes to family and friends in his writing and says he does not expect forgiveness, according to the official.
Allen’s sister described him to law enforcement as having a tendency toward making radical comments as well as constantly referencing a plan to fix issues with the world, the official said.
She confirmed to investigators that Allen had purchased two handguns and a shotgun but that her parents were unaware he was keeping the weapons inside their home, according to the official.
Allen’s brother did not appear to be inside when a crew knocked on the door of his New London apartment.
A neighbor who only wanted to be identified as Amanda and didn’t want her face shown said she was stunned by the news.
“That’s crazy. That’s crazy,” she said.
University of New Haven criminal justice professor and former FBI special agent Kenneth Gray says police acted quickly with this information.
“That is law enforcement helping law enforcement in an investigation. Locals becoming aware of something and pass it along to the appropriate authorities for that investigation,” he said.
Gray says it’s not unusual for family members to reach out to police and says the information they got could be valuable to prosecute Allen.
“They are acting to protect others or to their loved one,” he said.