Authorities said Saturday night’s shooting occurred outside the ballroom where Trump and other guests were seated for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
WASHINGTON — A gunman sprinted through security and fired shots outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday, prompting the Secret Service to evacuate President Donald Trump and other United States leaders from the event.Â
The shooting suspect was identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press.Â
Police said they “exchanged gunfire” with the suspect, but he was not hit. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said the suspect was in the hospital, but did not provide a status.Â
President Trump posted a surveillance video of the incident and multiple images of the suspected shooter on social media.Â
During a press conference back at the White House, the president identified the gunman as a man from California, who had been “captured.” He said officials believe the man acted as a “lone wolf.”
Interim Chief of Police of the Metropolitan Police Department Jeffery W. Carroll said Allen was armed with a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives. He said preliminary evidence shows the suspect was a guest at the hotel where the dinner was being held.Â
While the investigation is still underway, police say they believe he was the only suspect in this incident and there is no danger to public at this time.
Police said he was “not known” to them before the shooting.Â
The Secret Service said in a statement there had been a shooting “near the main magnetometer screening area” of the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. and that one person was in custody, but their condition wasn’t known. The shooting occurred outside the ballroom where the event happened, not in the same room.
Trump said he was “no where near” the event and the doors of the ballroom were sealed, keeping those inside safe.
“The president and the first lady are safe along all protectees,” Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi wrote in a statement. “Law enforcement is actively assessing the situation.”
A law enforcement officer took a shot to the vest and was taken to the hospital for treatment. Weijia Jiang, White House Correspondents’ Association President, confirmed there were no injuries after the incident.Â
“The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition,” Trump posted to social media.Â
Previous reports said the shooter was dead, but his condition is still unknown at this time.Â
Trump said the dinner would be rescheduled within 30 days.Â
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CNNÂ anchor Wolf Blitzer described seeing a shooter open fire with a “major weapon” and he fired “at least half a dozen shots.” Wolf had stepped out of the ballroom to use the bathroom when gunshots rang out and encountered the shooter.
The Secret Service and other authorities flooded the banquet hall as guests hid under tables after the bangs. “Out of the way, sir!” someone yelled. Others yelled to duck, according to the Associated Press.
Multiple reports on scene said there were “loud sounds” in the area, which prompted the response.Â
Attendees were still in the ballroom where the dinner was being held, but there was later an announcement that the evening would not continue.Â
Those in attendance included Trump, Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and others.Â
In 1981, President Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr. outside the same hotel — an event that prompted redesigns of the property that increased security and added a special presidential suite near the entrance where chief executives could be taken.
