Following the incident, US President Donald Trump posted a picture of the alleged suspect who reportedly opened fire near the ballroom where the annual correspondents' dinner was being held.
US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Melania Trump were evacuated out of the White House Correspondents' Dinner after shots were fired near the ballroom of the Hilton Hotel in Washington, where the event was taking place.
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An armed man with gun and knives reportedly stormed the lobby of the hotel,rushing past security as he charged at the ballroom. In footage circulating online, dinner guests can be seen ducking under tables at the sound of shots being fired.
The shooting suspect - who Trump posted a photo of on his Truth Social media platform - was identified as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old man from California, according to law enforcement officials.
The perpetrator was allegedly a guest at the hotel where the dinner was being held. Police believe he acted alone but did not elaborate on his intended target or motive.
The man, who is expected in court on Monday, is facing two firearm-related charges, including a count of assaulting an officer with a deadly weapon.
Immediately after the incident, Trump held a press conference, calling his profession a "dangerous profession," in which attempted violence is "part of the job".
“Today we need levels of security that probably nobody has ever seen before,” the president said, adding that “We’re not going to let anybody take over our society".
When asked by a reporter why he repeatedly has been the target for potential assassination, Trump replied that perhaps it was because he was "very influential" and compared himself to Abraham Lincoln, the first US president that was assassinated in 1865 when he was shot in the back of the head.
Trump previously was the target of an assassination attempt at a campaign event in Pennsylvania in 2024. Trump, who was on stage at the time, was quickly escorted to safety. However, one attendee was killed in the incident and two others were injured. One bullet grazed Trump's right ear.
“When you’re impactful, they go after you. When you’re not impactful, they leave you alone,” Trump said.
Trump released video footage from the hotel's security cameras, which captured the moment in which the gunman attempted to "break through" security at the reception area.
One officer was shot, but was protected by a bulletproof vest. Trump said he spoke with the officer and confirmed he's in good condition.
“He was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job. I just spoke to the officer and he's doing great. He's in great shape,” Trump said.
The president praised members of his security detail for their immediate response, although the fact that a man was able to come so close to the ballroom raised questions about security precautions.
Generally, the Hilton hotel stays open to regular guests during the annual dinner, with security focused around the ballroom where the event is held, rather than the hotel at large.
In the past years, the lack of screening of regular guests created opportunities for disruptions, such as protests, in the lobby and other areas of the hotel.
The correspondents' dinner is an annual event held to honour journalism and the First Amendment. The dinner was attended by hundreds of prominent journalists, celebrities and national leaders.
This year's event marked the first time Trump, who has often been criticised for berating reporters and several media organisations, attended the event since he became president.