A suspect linked with White House dinner shooting was identified as Cole Thomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California – was immediately detained by police.
He was arrested soon after he breached the lobby checkpoint and opened fire at White House dinner event, injuring a law and enforcement staff member, who was rushed to hospital.
According to reports, the suspect was carrying multiple weapons including a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives.
He breached a checkpoint in the hotel lobby about 8:36 p.m. and ran toward the ballroom targeting the event.
Allen had no previous criminal record.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were safely evacuated Saturday after gunshots were reportedly heard during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
According to preliminary reports, Trump was uninjured. At least five shots were reportedly heard from the back of the ballroom as attendees were eating the first course.
The incident occurred several minutes after White House Correspondents’ Association President Weija Jiang delivered remarks.
Trump was seated onstage at the front of the ballroom beside the former first lady when U.S. Secret Service agents quickly surrounded him.
Video from the event shows Trump being escorted off the stage moments later as armed tactical officers appeared on the dais. Numerous other top officials from the Trump administration were in attendance, including former Vice President JD Vance, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.Minutes after the incident, Jiang addressed the ballroom from the stage, saying the dinner would resume.
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