Gunfire shattered the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington on Saturday night, forcing President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and senior cabinet members into a swift evacuation as panic spread through the venue.
Authorities say the suspect—whom Trump condemned as a “sick” individual—was armed with multiple weapons and quickly subdued by security. Dramatic images from the scene show the shirtless man pinned face down inside the Washington Hilton after his arrest. He now faces federal charges, including using a firearm during a crime of violence and assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.
Law enforcement identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Allen, a teacher from Torrance, California. Investigators say he opened fire near the main security screening area shortly after 8:30 p.m., just as the high-profile event was getting underway.
The president had been scheduled to deliver the traditional address to journalists and top officials later in the evening, but the annual gathering was abruptly postponed as authorities secured the scene and launched their investigation.