A suspect was captured on camera sprinting through the lobby of the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner before being apprehended by secret service agents.
The individual identified as Cole Tomas Allen, aged 31 and hailing from Torrance, California, was armed with firearms and knives when he charged into the hotel on Saturday evening.
A video shared by Donald Trump on Truth Social depicted the suspect bypassing security barriers as agents swiftly moved to intercept him.
One officer sustained a gunshot to the bulletproof vest but is in recovery, according to officials. The armed individual was subdued without injury and is currently under evaluation at a medical facility, as per the police.
Allen has been apprehended and is facing charges related to firearms, including assaulting an officer with a deadly weapon.
The suspect, reported to have been a guest at the Washington Hilton where the event took place, has been detained and is scheduled for a court appearance on Monday. Authorities believe he acted alone in the shooting but have not disclosed his target or motive.
Donald Trump emerged unharmed and was swiftly escorted offstage. Secret service agents, including the heavily armed counter assault team, swiftly secured the area following the incident.
Vice President JD Vance was the first to be evacuated from the premises, while Trump was initially shielded in place by agents before being accompanied out along with First Lady Melania Trump. Trump stumbled momentarily on his way offstage but was aided by his security team.
Following the chaos, Trump was temporarily housed in the secure presidential suite at the hotel. Despite initial attempts to resume the event, he was eventually advised by the secret service to return to the White House.
In a statement at the White House two hours later, Trump, still dressed in his tuxedo, remarked, “When you’re impactful, they go after you. When you’re not impactful, they leave you alone. They seem to think he was a lone wolf.”
The shooting incident occurred just outside the large ballroom where the dinner was being held, disrupting the event shortly after its commencement. The incident raised concerns about security measures at an event attended by senior government officials annually.
Trump later expressed hope for the rescheduling of the event within 30 days. However, the breach by an armed individual rushing towards the ballroom immediately prompted questions about security protocols at such a high-profile gathering.
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