Former US President Barack Obama on Sunday denounced the shooting during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, stressing that violence has no place in a democratic society and praising the response of security personnel.In a post to He added, “It is also a sobering reminder of the courage and sacrifice that U.S. Secret Service agents show every day. I am grateful to them — and grateful that the agent who was shot will be okay.”
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The accident occurred on Sunday during the annual event attended by US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and other senior officials.A man armed with guns and knives stormed the lobby outside the venue Saturday evening, charging down the hall in a chaotic standoff with Secret Service agents as guests dove under tables to the sound of gunfire. The Associated Press reported that the shooting occurred outside the large underground dance hall hosting thousands of attendees, disrupting the event minutes after it began.
Trump was not injured and was carried from the theater. The suspect, who officials said was a guest at the Washington Hilton Hotel, was taken into custody and is expected to appear in court on Monday. Police believe he acted alone but have not determined a motive or intended target.“When you’re influential, they go after you. When you’re not influential, they leave you alone,” Trump said later at the White House, adding that authorities believed the attacker was a “lone wolf.”
He also said he hoped to reschedule the event within 30 days, even as the breach raised questions about security arrangements.Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, called the incident a “horrific moment” and praised the quick response of the US Secret Service and law enforcement personnel.According to Acting US Attorney Todd Blanche, the suspect fired “several shots” before he was subdued, adding that he “barely got beyond the perimeter.”A Secret Service officer was hit by a bullet-resistant vest and is recovering, officials said. The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen of Torrance, California, was not injured but was taken to the hospital for evaluation. He faces two firearms-related charges, including assaulting an officer with a deadly weapon.
