Washington, DC: US president Donald Trump and other top leaders were evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner on Saturday night after gunshots were fired at the event.
Secret Service agents rushed into the venue, even as guests ducked under tables. One suspect has been apprehended and an investigation is in progress.
Both Trump and US first lady Melania Trump were rushed out of the venue and are safe, officials confirmed. Nobody was hurt in the shooting, they said.
A man armed with a shotgun apparently attempted to breach security near the event’s main screening area. The suspect fired at a Secret Service agent, but the bullet struck protective gear and the agent was not harmed, An FBI official said, as reported by India Today.
Dinner attendees immediately froze before screams of “Get down, get down!” echoed through the hall, even as shots rang out. Hundreds of guests dived under tables while heavily armed Secret Service officers stormed the dining room. Trump and Melania were seen ducking behind the dais moments before agents swiftly escorted them out.
There were about 2,600 attendees at the venue, with many taking cover as chaos unfolded. While waitstaff fled toward the front of the hall, security personnel pushed several senior officials, including Robert F Kennedy Jr, Doug Burgum, and Marco Rubio, to the floor as a precaution, witnesses said.
Top cabinet members were later evacuated one by one as security teams swept the premises.
Trump, the first lady, vice president, and all cabinet members were safe, the US Secret Service confirmed. Spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the agency is investigating a shooting near the event’s entrance.
Trump posted on Truth Social that the “shooter had been caught”, about an hour after the incident, praising security forces. “Quite an evening in DC Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job,” he wrote, later adding that everyone was “in perfect condition.”
He had initially suggested continuing the dinner—“LET THE SHOW GO ON”—but deferred to law enforcement, Trump said. The event would be rescheduled within 30 days and announced he would hold a press conference shortly from the White House Press Briefing Room, the US president added.
Fox News and New York Post columnist, Karol Markowicz said the suspect has been identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from Torrance, California.
“The attempted shooter at the White House Correspondent’s Dinner is 31-year old Cole Tomas Allen from Torrance, California and he is in custody,” she wrote on social media. Authorities, however, have not officially confirmed the identity of the suspect.
One officer was shot at, but “saved by the fact that he was wearing a obviously very good bulletproof vest”, Trump posted.
“He was shot from a very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job,” he said.
He spoke to the officer who was “doing great” and in “great shape”, Trump added.
“Has very high spirits and we told him we love him,” the Republican leader said.
