Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner
US President Donald Trump was evacuated after a shooting occurred during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night, sparking panic inside the crowded banquet hall.
President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and Vice President J.D. Vance were immediately evacuated from the auditorium by tactical teams and transported to a safe location.Authorities have identified the suspected gunman as a 30-year-old man from California, according to multiple law enforcement officials familiar with the latest developments, as reported by CNN.According to Agence France-Presse, the suspect was detained by the US Secret Service. Separately, sources familiar with the matter told Fox News that one individual attempted to pass through security screening with a firearm, but was intercepted by the Secret Service before reaching the hall. The suspect was then transported “off-site.”Trump said in a post on the Truth Social website that the suspected “shooter” had been arrested, praising law enforcement. He also called for the event to continue as planned.
Read also: Shooter fires five to eight shots during White House dinner, Donald Trump’s evacuation – what we know so farAccording to multiple media reports citing a Cabinet member and attendees, five to eight shots were fired. An officer wearing a bullet-resistant vest was injured during a reporters’ dinner, but is expected to be OK, the Associated Press reported, citing a law enforcement official.Guests hid under tables as security personnel stormed the venue, shouting warnings, while the hall was quickly evacuated.Read also: Who was the shooter at Trump’s dinner party – what we know so farMembers of the National Guard took their positions inside while the authorities closed the building, allowing people to leave but not to return to it, while maintaining strict security measures outside.
The US Secret Service has detained one suspect, although more details about the incident are awaited.The Washington Hilton, the longtime venue for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, remains open to the public during the event, allowing regular guests to access the hotel as usual, the AP reported.Security measures are generally focused around the hall where the dinner party is being held, with relatively limited screening of individuals not attending the event itself.
