President Trump Shot Near White House Correspondents’ Dinner
Updated at 10:15pm ET
Reports have emerged indicating that President Donald Trump was shot near the venue of the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. He was promptly escorted from the event.
A video has surfaced showing the shooting suspect being taken into custody at the Washington Hilton, the location of tonight’s dinner.
Interestingly, the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, located within the same hotel, is named after the former Press Secretary who sustained severe brain damage from a gunshot. This room is typically used for President Trump’s press conferences.
Updated at 9:58 p.m. ET
Karol Markowitz reported that both he and the shooter, identified as Cole Thomas Allen, a 31-year-old from Torrance, California, are now in custody. However, there are mixed reports about whether Allen was shot.
Updated at 9:56 p.m. ET
Attendees were seen leaving the ballroom, with an announcement urging members to report to the stage. Exiting a venue like the Hilton during this kind of incident is chaotic at best, and those leaving might find it especially harrowing given the circumstances.
Updated at 9:53 p.m. ET
Nick Souter shared a photo of the gunman, who was arrested by the Secret Service.
Updated at 9:49pm ET
Widja Jiang, senior correspondent for CBS News and a member of the WHCA, provided an update while making some ironic comments that drew laughter in the press room. She mentioned President Trump’s plan to hold a press conference shortly.
With people still locked in closets and shaken from the ordeal, it felt out of place to find humor in the situation.
Updated at 9:41pm ET
The dinner was taking place at the Washington Hilton, a venue historically significant as the site where President Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley back in 1981.
Updated at 9:39pm ET
President Trump made an announcement regarding a planned press conference to be held within 30 minutes after leaving the hotel premises. He reassured that First Lady Melania Trump and other officials were safe and indicated that the event would be rescheduled soon.
Updated at 9:31pm ET
Fox News reported that Trump had not been escorted away from the venue. Information suggests a disturbance occurred but clarified that law enforcement was in control. The Secret Service aimed to assess any further threats, indicating there were none.
Updated at 9:29pm ET
Footage shows President Trump’s response during the incident. Nearly ten seconds passed after the first gunshot before security officials reached him, and it took an additional ten seconds to remove him from the podium.
Updated at 9:24 p.m. ET
President Trump expressed praise for law enforcement and emphasized their quick actions against the shooter. He suggested continuing the event but acknowledged that decisions would be guided by law enforcement’s direction.
Updated at 9:18pm ET
FOX News reported that it was actually the Secret Service who fired shots at the suspect, rather than the suspect firing at anyone. The details of the situation were still unfolding.
Updated at 9:17pm ET
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated that the Secret Service was managing security at the hotel and that city officials were on their way to oversee the situation.
Updated at 9:13pm ET
During the shooting, Speaker Mike Johnson and other officials were removed from the room, while many attendees were confined within the banquet hall.
Updated at 9:11pm ET
Chaos ensued as one attendee shared that he had barricaded himself in a kitchen pantry with others when the shooting took place. Upon hearing that the event would resume, dismay was evident among those hiding.
Updated at 9:05pm ET
A speaker announced that the program would temporarily continue, which received quiet applause from those present.
Updated at 9:03pm ET
CNN has reported that the gunman was killed at the scene, with the incident occurring at the hotel adjacent to where the dinner was being held.
This is breaking news.
