WASHINGTON — Congressman Mike Lawler (R-NY-17) was at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday when a gunman opened fire, prompting President Trump to be evacuated.
One Secret Service officer was shot but was protected by a bulletproof vest. The suspect was identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California. He was arrested after allegedly entering the Washington Hilton and rushing toward the ballroom, where Trump and more than 2,000 guests had gathered.
“Within minutes of the dinner starting, shots were fired outside the room, and chaos broke out as Secret Service, Federal agents, Capitol Police, and law enforcement stormed the room,” said Lawler, who attended the event with his wife, Doina. “Doina and I want to thank them for their swift and immediate reaction to detain the gunman and ensure the safety of everyone in the room, including President Trump and the First Lady, Vice President Vance, Speaker Johnson, Leader Scalise, and numerous cabinet secretaries and members of Congress.”
Law enforcement exchanged gunfire with Allen, who was carrying guns and knives and is believed to have acted alone. He was not hit by gunfire and was taken to a hospital for evaluation. Lawler said the suspect never made it into the ballroom.
President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were in attendance and were evacuated. The President held a news conference after the incident stating that Allen was a “lone wolf whack job” who “looked pretty evil.”
“The fact that the gunman was able to get within the vicinity of the event, given all of the security measures, speaks to the challenges law enforcement faces every day and the threats that are continually posed to our public servants,” Lawler said. “As a country, we must find a way forward to respect our political differences without resorting to violence. was armed with multiple weapons before being stopped by the Secret Service.”
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the suspect has been charged with firearms and assault charges.
Comments