politics
Shooting Incident at White House Correspondents' Dinner Leads to Suspect's Arrest
A man fired shots at a Secret Service agent during the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton, prompting an evacuation. The suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, was taken into custody, and no fatalities were reported. President Trump and other attendees were confirmed safe following the incident.
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A shooting occurred at the White House Correspondents' Dinner held at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026. A man penetrated security layers and rushed the magnetometers near the ballroom entrance, firing at a Secret Service agent. The agent, struck in the bulletproof vest, returned fire, and both individuals survived the exchange.
The event, attended by approximately 1,500 people including President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Cabinet members, and members of Congress, was locked down for about an hour. Guests dropped under tables as security officials with weapons drawn escorted protectees out.
The FBI reported a suspect was in custody after the Secret Service described the event as a shooting incident near a security screening area.
Actions Reports indicate the suspect was identified as a 31-year-old from Torrance, California. A man assembled a weapon before opening fire near the magnetometer screening area. A suspect was taken into custody following the incident. ” Trump wanted the dinner to resume, but the Secret Service stopped that idea.
A White House briefing was expected to provide further details.
footage showed Vice President JD Vance being escorted out by security. An unconfirmed image circulated showing a body surrounded by Secret Service officers. Witnesses reported hearing 5-6 shots and observed a man dashing toward the dining area before gunfire erupted.
The incident prompted immediate evacuation of President Trump and his Cabinet. On-scene accounts described commotion starting about five minutes into the dinner hour, with agents shouting “shots fired” and sprinting through the aisles. No casualties were reported beyond the injured agent.
