An armed man exchanged gunfire with law enforcement after he rushed a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, authorities said, an event attended by President Donald Trump and high-ranking members of his administration.
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Trump and top members of his cabinet and Congress were quickly evacuated from the ballroom at the Washington Hilton, where the annual event was being held.
The lone suspect was apprehended after an exchange of gunfire in which a Secret Service officer was injured. No other injuries were reported.
Authorities have not detailed the intended target of the incident or a motive.
Here’s what we know about the incident.
Suspect had multiple weapons
The suspect was identified as Cole Thomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, a federal official familiar with the case told NBC News.
Officials have said he has no criminal record and was not on the radar of law enforcement in Washington, D.C.
The suspect was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives when he breached a checkpoint in the hotel lobby about 8:36 p.m. and ran toward the ballroom where the event was being held, Metropolitan Police Chief Jeffery Carroll said.
Law enforcement exchanged gunfire with the suspect, he said, and ultimately tackled him and took him into custody.
He was not shot but was taken to a hospital, Carroll said.
A Secret Service Uniformed Division officer was “struck in the vest” and taken for treatment to a local hospital, Carroll said. The officer was later released from the hospital, a source said early Sunday.
Trump said he spoke with the officer, who he said was shot “from a very close distance with a very powerful gun” and was “saved” by his vest.
Trump evacuated from dinner
Security video that Trump posted on Truth Social showed a person run through a room where several security personnel were standing. Multiple law enforcement personnel drew their guns and charged after him, the video showed.
Inside the ballroom, Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other officials were rushed from the room as others ducked under tables and law enforcement ran in with guns drawn.
Not everyone in the ballroom heard the sounds of gunfire. Some NBC News reporters who were inside said there was a commotion and confusion as agents rushed in and toward where the president and other officials were seated.
Trump later returned to the White House, where he said in a news briefing that he had spoken with the injured officer, and he praised Secret Service agents for their response.
The president said the moment of gunfire sounded to him like a dinner tray falling.
“I heard a noise and sort of thought it was a tray,” Trump said. “I thought it was a tray going down. I’ve heard that many times, and it was a pretty loud noise.”
Suspect acted alone, was staying at hotel
Carroll said authorities believe the suspect was acting alone and was a guest at the hotel. He said the hotel room the man was believed to be using was being searched by authorities.
The suspect will be charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous or deadly weapon, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, said at a news conference.
He was expected to be arraigned Monday, Pirro said.
“It is clear, based upon what we know so far, this individual was intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could,” she said.
Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Secret Service, are investigating. Authorities have not publicly revealed a possible motive.
Event to be rescheduled
Trump told reporters that he “fought like hell to stay” at the dinner, but law enforcement concerns took precedence. Trump said the event would be rescheduled within 30 days.
Trump had attended the dinner before as a member of the audience, but Saturday night’s event was his first while in office.
