‘Put it together, ran towards the dance floor’: Volunteer recalls WH gunman assembling ‘long weapon’ in ‘makeshift room’ – The

A volunteer at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner said the suspected gunman was able to assemble a “long weapon” inside an unsecured, lightly surveilled area near a balcony-level entrance before the attack occurred near the auditorium.Witness Helen Mabus, a volunteer working at the event, described a “makeshift room” near the entrance where bar carts were stored and where “there was no security” at the time.

“He was in that room […] “He took it out of a bag or something,” Mabus said, according to the New York Post, adding that the weapon “was long” and “didn’t look like a traditional gun.”The suspect was partially out of sight of security as he handled the weapon inside the room before heading toward the main event venue, Mabus said.

“He collected it and […] “I ran towards the stairs to go down the hall,” she said.The gunman then began shooting in multiple directions as guests and staff tried to flee.“It seemed like he was shooting everywhere,” Mabus said, estimating she heard “at least 10 shots.”She said the shooting caused immediate panic, with people “screaming and running” as the gunmen responded. Mabus said she ran in the opposite direction and did not see the suspect arrested.

The gunman, identified as Cole Allen of Torrance, California, was arrested after entering the Washington Hilton Hotel and moving toward the ballroom where President Trump and about 2,500 guests were gathering.Trump called it a “possible solo act” and “seemed very sinister.”The shooting began just after 8.30pm near the internal security screening area, where salad was being served to guests. The Secret Service evacuated Trump from the room, while members of his cabinet took shelter under tables before they were taken out.A law enforcement officer was shot, with the bullet hitting his bulletproof vest. “He was armed with a rifle, a handgun and several knives when he entered that checkpoint,” D.C. Police Chief Jeffrey Carroll said.“At this point he appears to be a lone actor and a lone gunman,” Carroll said. “There does not appear to be any danger to the public.”District of Columbia U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Saturday that Allen was charged with using a firearm during the commission of a violent crime and assault on a federal officer.A dramatic video posted by Trump on social media shows Allen opening fire and rushing toward the dance floor.A LinkedIn profile matching his name and photo described him as a teacher at C2 Education, a tutoring and test preparation company. The company awarded him the title of “Teacher of the Month” in December 2024, according to posts on social media.