'It's bizarre': Californians grapple with revelation that suspected Trump gunman was neighbour

The man charged with attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump at a Washington dinner lived with his parents in a quiet coastal suburb of Los Angeles. Some people here lovingly refer to the city of Torrance, known for its good schools, ocean breezes and million-dollar homes, as "Bore-ance" because nothing much ever happens. Cole Thomas Allen's neighbours in the community told the BBC they were shocked to see his face on TV - handcuffed, topless and face down on the ground of the Hilton Hotel after allegedly coming armed to Saturday's White House Correspondents' Dinner. "It's bizarre that this person lives two blocks away from your house," says Vince Terrazzino, whose 10-year-old daughter Alessandra was pressing the FBI agents for updates as they moved from house to house, knocking on doors and looking for clues.The agents declined to answer her or us. For Alessandra and others who live nearby, the mob of media parked on their sidewalks was an unusual site, irritating to many, but exciting and "popping" to Alessandra and others.Getty ImagesIt started Saturday night shortly after Allen's arrest in Washington. Helicopters circled above homes all night as law enforcement searched the home he shared with his parents, who many here say they knew as a friendly family. The noise kept almost everyone on the street awake - and tuning into the news to figure out what was going on. Allen, 31, appeared in court on Monday to face charges but has yet to enter a plea. Prosecutors allege Allen wrote to relatives of his plans, telling them he planned to target as many members of the Trump administration as he could. He was carrying a semi-automatic handgun, a pump-action shotgun and three knives when he charged past a security checkpoint at the dinner, an affidavit states. An exchange of gunfire left one Secret Service agent injured before Allen was subdued, officials say.Kids in the neighborhood like Alessandra call Torrance, the city where the suspect lived with his parents, "Bore-ance" "Nothing ever happens here," Terrazzino says, urging Alessandra to tell the BBC what she calls the city. "Bore-ance," she says.Kids on wheelie bikes whizzed by the throngs of news cameras outside the home - hoping to show off their skills on the evening news or in some influencer's video. They, too, confirmed the "Bore-ance" moniker.People walked their dogs and rode bikes up and down the street, passing tips to the media."He used to drink at the Irish bar," one says. We visited the bar but no one there recognised him.She says her 11-year-old- daughter was tutored by Allen. They have different tutors each time they show up, but when she showed her daughter Allen's picture, she recognized him as one of the teachers who helped her."You never know who you're around," Peralta says. "It's kind of shocking to learn."When Cole Allen studied at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) – one of the most prestigious universities in the US - he worshipped at the nearby Pasadena United Reformed Church. The pastor there, Movses Janbazian, told the BBC that he still remembers Allen."It was very sad to hear," Janbazian says of hearing the news of Allen's arrest and alleged crimes.He says that Allen was quiet and would come for church services and go back to university."Caltech is very competitive. He was studying a lot," he says. "He would come and go."Janbazian says he doesn't want to talk about politics and that he didn't know what political leanings Cole Allen had or if he continued to go to church after he graduated and moved away from the area."I knew him casually," he says. "I don't have a lot to add."