Security footage captured the dramatic moment when a suspect sprinted through the hotel lobby during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner before being apprehended by secret service agents.
The individual involved has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, hailing from Torrance, California. Armed with guns and knives, he breached the Washington Hilton on Saturday evening.
A video shared by Donald Trump on Truth Social depicted the suspect evading security barricades as secret service agents swiftly responded to the situation.
During the incident, an officer sustained a gunshot to their bullet-resistant vest but is in recovery. The gunman was subdued without injuries and is currently under evaluation at a hospital, as confirmed by law enforcement.
Allen has been detained and is facing charges related to firearms, including assaulting an officer with a deadly weapon.
Reportedly a guest at the Washington Hilton where the dinner was taking place, the suspect has been detained and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday. Authorities believe he acted alone and have not disclosed his intended target or motive.
Following the disruption, Trump was unharmed and promptly escorted offstage. Secret service agents, including a heavily-armed counter assault team, swiftly secured the area.
Vice President JD Vance was evacuated first, while Trump was initially shielded in place before being escorted out alongside First Lady Melania Trump. Trump encountered a brief stumble before being assisted by his security detail.
After being held in the secure presidential suite at the hotel, Trump was advised by the secret service to return to the White House, cutting short the event that had momentarily attempted to resume normalcy.
Reflecting on the incident, Trump remarked at the White House, “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 occurred just outside the expansive ballroom hosting the dinner guests, disrupting the event that aimed to celebrate journalism and the First Amendment, drawing particular attention as it marked Trump’s first attendance since becoming president.
Trump expressed hope for the event to be rescheduled within 30 days, raising concerns about security measures following the breach by an armed individual at an event frequented by senior government officials.