WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump was uninjured and other top leaders of the United States were evacuated from an annual dinner of White House correspondents after shots were fired outside the ballroom where the event was being held Saturday night.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said the incident occurred about 8:36 at the Washington Hilton hotel, site of the dinner, when “a sole gunman rushed a Secret Service checkpoint in a lobby at the hotel,” and was stopped by Secret Service agents.
The man, later identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, was injured and transported to a local hospital, as was a Secret Service who was shot in bullet-resistant vest.
The agent is expected to be OK, a law enforcement official said.
There did not immediately appear to be any other injuries.
The FBI said the shooter is in custody and that its Washington field office is responding to the shooting.
President Trump later addressed the media gathered at the White House. He praised the Secret Service and other law enforcement officers who responded after the shots were fired, called the shooter “a sick person” who “looked pretty evil” and was, law enforcement believes, “a lone wolf.” He also argued that the incident reinforced the need for a new White House ballroom which, he said, would be more secure.
Trump said the suspect was armed with multiple weapons before being stopped by the Secret Service. He said the officer was shot “was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job,” Trump said.
As he described the sequence of events, Trump emphasized that the shooter still remained a far distance from the ballroom where thousands of people had gathered for the dinner.“He hadn’t anywhere close to breached the doors of the ballroom,” the president said.
Security footage posted by Trump shows a man sprinting through the metal detectors and past law enforcement who turn toward him with guns raised. Officers then swarm toward the man off-screen.
Trump, describing what was going through his mind as the shots rang out, said he initially believed it was a tray being dropped. But the first lady, he said, was “very cognizant” that it was a shooting, he said.
“I think she knew immediately what happened,” the president said, recalling that his wife told him, “that’s a bad noise.”
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed the media at the White House after Trump spoke. Blanche said charges will be filed shortly, and that the nature of the charges would be obvious considering what had happened at the dinner. Blanche stressed that “the investigation is obviously ongoing and just started.”
FBI Director Kash Patel, also at the White House, said the agency is examining a long gun and shell casings recovered from the scene, as well as interviewing witnesses from the dinner. He urged anyone with information to come forward.
The Secret Service and other authorities swarmed the banquet hall at the Washington Hilton as guests dining on burrata salad ducked under tables by the hundreds. “Out of the way, sir!” someone yelled. Others yelled to duck. From one corner, a “God Bless America” chant began as Trump was escorted off stage. After falling briefly — he apparently tripped — he was helped up by Secret Service agents.
All officials protected by the Secret Service were evacuated. After reports that organizers were attempting to resume the dinner, the president of the correspondents association said the event would be rescheduled.
Some in the crowd reported hearing what they believed to be five to eight shots fired. The banquet hall — where hundreds of prominent journalists, celebrities and national leaders were awaiting Trump’s remarks — was immediately evacuated. Members of the National Guard took up position inside the building as people were allowed to leave but not immediately re-enter. Security outside was also extremely tight.
