Panic at the White House, Trump rushed for safety as gunshots interrupted correspondents’ dinner – THIS UPDATE

By Ayo Kehinde

Panic briefly gripped Washington on Saturday evening as US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were quickly evacuated by Secret Service agents following gunfire that disrupted the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, in what officials have now confirmed was a coordinated but ultimately foiled attack by a lone gunman.

Providing new details just hours after the incident, President Trump revealed that “a shooter has been arrested,” confirming that the suspect had been taken into custody after attempting to breach security at the site.

Law enforcement later identified the attacker as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California.

In a White House press conference, Trump described the suspect as a “lone wolf” who “charged a security checkpoint armed with many weapons” before being “taken down by some very brave members of the Secret Service.”

He added that the attacker “started running from about 50 meters away… he was fast, like a blurry image on a tape,” underlining the urgency of the threat faced by security personnel.

According to authorities, the suspect was heavily armed with a rifle, a pistol and several knives when he approached the checkpoint. During the clash he opened fire, hitting a secret service agent.

However, the officer’s protective vest absorbed the impact.

“The vest worked,” Trump said, noting that he personally spoke with the agent, who remained in good spirits.

Law enforcement sources confirmed that the suspect was stopped after an exchange of gunfire and physically assaulted by officers before he could enter the main ballroom where hundreds of high-profile guests were gathered.

He was not hit during the incident, but was later transported to Howard University Hospital following his arrest.

Investigators revealed that the suspect booked a room at the Washington Hilton (venue of the dinner) in early April, raising concerns about premeditation.

Although he declined to answer questions, officials said he allegedly made vague references to targeting administrative figures, although no specific individual was confirmed as the intended target.

Trump told reporters he believed he “may have been the target,” but law enforcement authorities, including acting Metropolitan Police Chief Jeffrey Carroll, warned it was still too early to determine the suspect’s precise motive.

“What his specific motivation was, we can’t say at this point,” Carroll said, adding that forensic teams are analyzing the shell casings and awaiting ballistics results to establish a clearer sequence of events.

The U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, said preliminary evidence suggests the suspect intended to cause maximum harm.

“It is clear, based on what we know so far, that this individual was intent on doing as much harm and damage as possible,” he told reporters.

Pirro confirmed the suspect is charged with use of a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, with additional charges expected. He is expected to be arraigned Monday.

Inside the ballroom, confusion and fear briefly took hold as guests heard what were initially mistaken for loud explosions before realizing that shots had been fired.

Participants hid under tables as security officers moved quickly to secure the area and evacuate key officials. Despite the chaos, no casualties were recorded. .

On a reassuring note, Trump also announced that the White House Correspondents’ Dinner will not be permanently canceled but rescheduled within the next 30 days, signaling resilience and continuity in the face of security threats.

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