WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump was evacuated unharmed from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton Saturday night after a gunman attempted to breach security at the high-profile event.
The shooting occurred around 8:36 p.m. at a security checkpoint in the hotel lobby, near the entrance to the ballroom where the dinner was being held.
The Washington Hilton is the same hotel where President Ronald Reagan was shot and wounded during a 1981 assassination attempt after leaving a speaking engagement. Reagan was shot outside the hotel, not inside the ballroom or lobby.
Authorities identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, Calif. Allen was taken into custody after allegedly sprinting through a magnetometer and catching security personnel off guard.
President Trump posted a picture of Allen, on his Truth Social post.
One Secret Service officer was shot in the chest at close range but survived because of a protective ballistic vest. The officer was later released from the hospital and reported to be in good spirits.
Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and Vice President J.D. Vance were immediately rushed from the stage to safety as law enforcement secured the area. Trump later addressed reporters at the White House, describing the gunman as a “lone wolf.”
Authorities said Allen was heavily armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives. Early reports indicate he told law enforcement he intended to target Trump administration officials, though the investigation remains ongoing.
Allen is expected to be arraigned in federal court Monday, April 27. He faces initial charges including using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.
The FBI and local law enforcement have secured a home linked to Allen in Torrance, California, and are awaiting a search warrant to begin a more thorough examination of the property.
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner was canceled following the shooting and is expected to be rescheduled within 30 days.
