Hahn demands probe of Torrance store where Correspondents’ Dinner shooter bought gun
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn (D – San Pedro, Long Beach, Compton, Carson, Lakewood, Hawaiian Gardens, Cerritos) is calling on the Los Angeles County District Attorney to investigate a Torrance gun store where the alleged White House Correspondents’ Dinner gunman legally purchased the shotgun he carried to Washington, D.C. — while also pushing the City of Torrance to adopt stricter gun store regulations.
Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance — a part-time teacher and video game developer — allegedly purchased a 12-gauge shotgun from the Turner’s Outdoorsman store on Hawthorne Boulevard in Torrance on August 17, 2025. On April 25, armed with the shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives, Allen attempted to breach a security checkpoint outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton, injuring a Secret Service agent before being tackled to the ground.
“Turner’s Outdoorsman’s practices demand investigation,” said Hahn. “Every day, guns sold at Turner’s locations in LA County turn up at crime scenes. These guns are used to kill, to injure, to rob, and to intimidate. They have inflicted immeasurable harm on Los Angeles County residents, and we should wield every tool we have to protect people.”
In a letter to LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, Hahn cited California Department of Justice data linking the eight Turner’s Outdoorsman stores in LA County to a disproportionate number of firearms recovered at crime scenes. Between 2022 and 2024, nearly 8,000 crime guns in California were traced back to Turner’s locations — more than any other dealer in the state.
The Torrance store alone accounted for 624 of those weapons, ranking second among all individual gun retailers statewide. Other Turner’s locations in Norwalk, Signal Hill, and Pasadena also rank among the top five. State data cited in the letter shows firearms sold by Turner’s are 35 percent more likely to end up at crime scenes compared to those sold by other dealers — a pattern regulators often associate with potential trafficking activity.
Hahn also sent a letter to Torrance Mayor George Chen and the Torrance City Council urging the city to adopt ordinances already in place in unincorporated LA County — including banning the sale of .50 caliber firearms, establishing buffer zones between gun stores and sensitive areas such as schools, prohibiting minors from entering gun stores, and requiring mandatory fingerprint logs, weekly inventory reports, and security cameras.
Friedman demands congressional oversight of FCC’s Disney license action
U.S. Rep. Laura Friedman (D – Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena) led a rally Wednesday alongside U.S. Rep. Judy Chu (D – Pasadena, San Gabriel Valley) and U.S. Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA), calling for full congressional oversight of the Federal Communications Commission’s decision to force early license renewals for Disney’s eight ABC-owned broadcast stations — an action Friedman called blatant First Amendment retaliation.
As LACP previously reported, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr ordered Disney to file early license renewals on April 28 — one day after President Trump posted on social media demanding ABC fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel following a White House Correspondents’ Dinner parody. The stations were not due for renewal until 2028 at the earliest. Carr cited a year-old diversity investigation as justification, though the investigation had seen no action since it was opened in March 2025.
“The President demanded a firing on Monday. The FCC pulled the licenses on Tuesday. That’s just blatant retaliation,” Friedman said. “This is a coordinated campaign to punish media companies that criticize the President, and it’s been a long-running pattern for this President’s administration. Now, they’re threatening ABC’s licenses to make sure everyone else falls in line. When Democrats take back the majority, we will hold this FCC accountable — with hearings, subpoenas, and legislation.”
The lawmakers pointed to the Supreme Court’s unanimous 2024 ruling in NRA v. Vullo, which held that government officials cannot coerce private parties to punish or suppress disfavored speech.
Mitchell flags $1.5 billion Sheriff budget tabulation error caught by outside advocacy group
Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell (D – Inglewood, Hawthorne, Gardena, Compton) issued a statement Wednesday raising concerns after a $1.5 billion tabulation error in the Sheriff’s Department’s proposed budget was identified not by the county’s own internal financial controls, but by the Reimagine LA Coalition, a criminal justice advocacy organization that monitors county spending.
The Reimagine LA Coalition — a progressive advocacy organization that was the driving force behind Measure J, the 2020 ballot measure directing 10 percent of locally generated county revenue to community investment and alternatives to incarceration — identified the error and brought it to public attention before the county corrected it.
“At a time when trust in government and public institutions is at an all-time low, and longstanding community concerns about how funding is allocated to the Sheriff’s Department persist, errors such as this furthers the public’s skepticism of government,” said Mitchell. “I understand this was an error in estimation only, and that no funds were overspent; however, it underscores the need to strengthen our internal controls so that mistakes like this are identified and addressed more quickly.”
The error appeared in the Sheriff’s Department Estimated Actuals for Fiscal Year 2025-26 as presented in the FY 2026-27 Recommended Budget Book. According to a May 1 addendum issued by the county Chief Executive Office, the figures contained tabulation errors that have since been corrected.
The correction has no impact on either the budgetary allocations adopted by the Board for FY 2026-27 or the Sheriff’s Department’s actual estimated expenditures.
Mitchell thanked both the Reimagine LA Coalition for catching the error and the county’s Chief Executive Office for ensuring the corrected figures are reflected in the proposed budget.
Barger highlights $3 million in new federal disaster repair grants for Eaton Fire survivors
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger (R – Palmdale, Lancaster, Santa Clarita, San Marino, Pasadena, La Cañada Flintridge, portions of the San Gabriel Valley) is highlighting a $3 million investment from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development division that will provide disaster assistance grants to homeowners still recovering from the Eaton Fire.
The funding comes through the USDA’s Section 504 Single Family Housing Repair Program and will support up to 92 homeowners in the Eaton Fire impact area with grants of up to $32,420 per household for essential home repairs, restoration of habitability, and site preparation and cleanup. Notably, the USDA waived standard Rural Development eligibility requirements to extend the funding to Altadena, which does not typically qualify under the program’s criteria.
“This $3 million investment is another critical resource that will help Eaton Fire survivors continue moving forward as they rebuild their homes and their lives,” said Barger. “I wholeheartedly appreciate USDA Rural Development for recognizing the unique needs of Altadena and stepping in with flexible support. Receiving this federal assistance on the heels of my visit with President Trump underscores how strong collaboration between federal, state, and local partners can deliver the resources residents need to restore their communities and move forward with confidence.”
Eaton Fire homeowners seeking application information can contact USDA Rural Development California State Director Bryan Anguiano at Bryan.Anguiano@USDA.gov or visit rd.usda.gov for program details.
