By Gloria Ogbonna
Erika Kirk, the CEO of Turning Point USA and widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, was shaken and visibly emotional as she was hurried out of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday evening after gunfire broke out at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. The dramatic scene was captured on video, showing Kirk in tears saying, “I just want to go home,” as she was led to safety amid the confusion.
The shooting occurred around 8:34 p.m. ET during the annual gala attended by journalists, politicians, and high-profile political figures. The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, allegedly fired shots near a security checkpoint outside the main ballroom where the event was taking place. Law enforcement swiftly intervened, and the man was taken into custody moments after the incident.
Panic spread throughout the venue as guests ducked under tables and scramble to find cover. Among those caught up in the chaos were reporters, political figures, and senior administration officials. President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and Vice President JD Vance were all safely evacuated from the ballroom by Secret Service agents, who reacted quickly to secure the scene.
One Secret Service officer was struck by gunfire, but his bullet-resistant vest prevented serious injury, and he is expected to recover. No other major injuries have been reported. With thousands of guests inside the Washington Hilton — many of them media members — the scene quickly turned from a formal dinner into a moment of terror and uncertainty.
Eyewitnesses said Kirk initially took shelter under a table before being consoled and escorted away. The emotional footage of her exit has drawn attention, particularly because it comes just months after she lost her husband, Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed during a political event last year.
In the aftermath, authorities continue to investigate the shooter’s motives and the circumstances that allowed him to approach the event. The annual dinner, which brings together press and political elites, has been postponed and is expected to be rescheduled. Officials are also reviewing security protocols after this unprecedented breach at an event with heightened protective measures.
Source Breitbart
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