By Joke Kujenya
SHOTS FORCED the prompt evacuation of United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD. Vance and senior administration officials from the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington after an armed man stormed a security checkpoint and opened fire.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that authorities said the president, his wife and other attendees were unharmed following the incident at the Washington Hilton, where guests took cover under tables as shots rang out during the event.
Two law enforcement officials also told The Associated Press that the suspect was immediately taken into custody and identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California.
Acting Attorney-General Todd Blanche said charges related to Saturday night’s attack would be filed shortly, while officials said the motive was not immediately known.
Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll told reporters that a lone gunman rushed a Secret Service checkpoint in the lobby at about 20:35 ET.
Carroll said the suspect was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives.
Inside the ballroom, tactical security teams took positions with guns drawn on the stage where Trump was seated alongside Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other officials, who were swiftly evacuated.
Hundreds of guests in black tie sheltered under tables before moving through the hotel lobby and exiting the building as the event was postponed.
Carroll said law enforcement exchanged gunfire with the suspect and intercepted him.
FBI Director Kash Patel said a long gun and shell casings were recovered at the scene and confirmed that witness interviews were under way.
Authorities said no dignitaries or guests were injured.
Carroll said only a uniformed Secret Service officer was struck in his vest and taken to hospital but was doing well.
Also, the suspect was not hit by gunfire but was taken to hospital for evaluation under tight security.
Law enforcement officials said the suspect was believed to be the only individual involved and had been detained at the scene.
The chief of the District of Columbia police department said investigators believed he was checked in as a guest at the hotel.
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the suspect would face two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon, adding that further charges could follow.
Also, CBS News reported, citing two sources, that the suspect told law enforcement he wanted to target Trump administration officials.
However, Police earlier said the motive remained unclear.
Immediate security measures at the venue included multiple screening layers, ticket verification and magnetometers operated by the Secret Service and Transportation Security Administration.
Officials said the suspect was believed to have passed the outermost security layer because he was a hotel guest.
Pirro said the checkpoint near the ballroom functioned as intended.
But Carroll said investigators would review surveillance footage to determine how the weapons entered the building.
President Addressed The Media
Trump later addressed the media at the White House, accompanied by the FBI director and the acting attorney general.
He said the suspect was “taken down” by the Secret Service and described him as a “very sick person” and a “thug.”
A Secret Service statement said the shooting occurred at a screening area and confirmed one individual was in custody while law enforcement assessed the situation.
Meanwhile, President Trump has said that the dinner would be rescheduled for next month.
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