US President Donald Trump was evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner after a shooting at the event on Friday.The suspect, a 30-year-old man from California, was arrested by the US Secret Service.
The Associated Press reported that the gunman’s name was Cole Thomas Allen.
Trump shared surveillance footage of the incident, showing the suspect rushing toward the event while security officers took their positions.
He also shared a photo of the gunman after officials arrested him.
The photo shows the suspect lying on the ground surrounded by security personnel.Citing sources familiar with the situation, Fox News reported that the person attempted to pass the security check with a gun, but was stopped by the Secret Service before entering the hall.
The suspect has since been moved “off-site.” A Fox News journalist described what he was told directly by senior White House officials: “The shooter charged the magnetometer closest to the front door… and shot a Secret Service member in the hall.”Read also: Donald Trump evacuated after shooting during White House Correspondents’ DinnerIn a post on Truth Social, Trump said the “shooter” had been arrested while praising law enforcement. He urged the event to continue.“The Secret Service and D.C. Law Enforcement did an amazing job on a wonderful evening.
They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter was arrested, and I recommended that we ‘let the show go,’ but that we would be completely directed by law enforcement.”They will make a decision soon. “Regardless of this decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we will have to do it again,” Trump said in his Truth Social post.Meanwhile, the Secret Service said it was investigating the incident in coordination with the Metropolitan Police Department“The U.S. Secret Service, in coordination with the Metropolitan Police Department, is investigating a shooting incident near the main magnetometer screening area during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
The President and First Lady are safe with all their guards. There is one individual in custody. The condition of those involved is not yet known, and law enforcement is actively evaluating the situation, the agency said in a social media post on X.
Attendees were moved from the main table down the hall while agents worked to determine if there were any additional threats. Officials have since indicated there are no ongoing threats, and the building has not been evacuated.However, the outlet also reported that Trump never left the reporters’ dinner venue and remained close after the security scare.He was moved to a secure holding area as a precaution and “wants the show to go on,” Fox News reported.