Trump being escorted out of the hall
PHOTO: abcNews
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner turned chaotic Saturday night when a “lone actor,” armed with a shotgun and other weapons, charged a security checkpoint and exchanged gunfire with law enforcement, authorities said.
The bang of guns forced security to escort President Donald Trump out of the ballroom where he was already seated. Other dignitaries were also rushed from the stage into safety.
The suspect identified as Cole Allen of Torrance, California, has been taken into custody, reports abcNews.
“It is clear, based upon what we know so far, that this individual was intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could,” U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro told reporters at a press briefing Saturday night.
Speaking to reporters from the White House, just hours after the incident, Trump praised law enforcement for their quick response and vowed the annual dinner would be rescheduled within the next 30 days.
Law enforcement sources identified the suspect as The suspect, Cole Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, who was working as a tutor.
According to law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation, the suspect is believed to have booked a room in the Washington Hilton, where the dinner took place, in early April.
He is declining to answer questions but allegedly made some reference to targeting administration officials but was not specific, the officials said.
Authorities have not yet specified a motive in the shooting.
Shortly before the White House press briefing, Trump posted a video showing agents take down the suspect, who he said “charged a security checkpoint armed with many weapons.”
@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social, wrote:
“He started running from 50 yards, and he was fast. He was like a blur on tape,” Trump said of the suspect.
As agents engaged with the suspect, a chaotic scene unfolded inside the hotel ballroom. Officers in tactical gear with long guns jumped over tables, brandishing their weapons as the president and other dignitaries, such as Vice President JD Vance, were rushed from the stage.
Photo: abcNews
Rep. Nanette Barragan, D-Calif., said it was “absolute chaos.”
“Heard the shots and had to get under our table,” she posted on X.
“It is always shocking when something like this happens,” Trump told reporters.
How the suspect was subdued
The shooting incident took place near the main magnetometer screening area at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, according to the Secret Service.
Local authorities said the suspect was tackled by law enforcement after an exchange of gunfire.
A Secret Service member was shot but the bullet hit the agent’s protective vest, Trump said. The president said he spoke with the agent and he was in good spirits.
“I told him we love him and respect him and he’s a very proud guy,” he said.
Interim D.C. Metropolitan Police Department Chief Jeffrey Carroll said police believe the suspect fired at Secret Service but are collecting shell casings and waiting on ballistics evidence to confirm.
The police chief told reporters that the suspect was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives. Carroll said the preliminary information is that he was a “lone actor.”
-abcnews
