US President Donald Trump on Sunday said the suspect behind the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner shooting was “heavily armed” and had charged a security checkpoint with multiple weapons before opening fire at a Secret Service agent, triggering a major security scare at the high-profile event.
“A man charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of the Secret Service,” Trump said at the White House, describing the sequence of events.
The incident unfolded outside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night, where Trump, Vice President JD Vance and senior administration officials were attending the annual dinner.
Trump confirmed that one Secret Service officer was shot at close range with a “very powerful gun” but survived because of a bulletproof vest.
“One officer was shot, but he is in great shape the vest did the job,” he said, adding that the officer was in "high spirits."
An FBI official had earlier said the suspect fired at a Secret Service agent, who was hit in protective gear and not harmed.
Trump said the suspect was from California and had been brought under control at the scene. Law enforcement officials have identified the accused as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance.
About an hour after being rushed from the event on Saturday night, Trump had posted on Truth Social that the “shooter had been apprehended.”
Asked whether he believed he was the intended target, Trump replied, “I guess.” He said investigators were still looking into the motive, adding that the attacker was “probably a lone shooter” but that authorities would “find out.”
Trump said he and First Lady Melania Trump were “very quickly rushed off the stage” as security responded to the threat. Vice President JD Vance, State Secretary Marco Rubio, and other senior officials present at the dinner were also evacuated.
Trump said the suspect appeared to be a lone attacker. “They think he was a lone wolf actor and I think that too,” he said, while adding that the investigation would determine the full motive.
Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche said the probe is ongoing and charges will be filed shortly, with law enforcement working on search warrants. The FBI’s counter-terrorism unit is leading the investigation.
Calling for restraint, Trump urged Americans to “resolve our differences peacefully,” noting the bipartisan presence at the event.
At the same time, he raised concerns about venue security, saying it was “not a particularly secure building” and underscoring the need for stronger, more advanced protections at high-profile events.
FBI Director Kash Patel said agents are examining ballistic evidence, including the weapon and shell casings, and are conducting witness interviews as part of an ongoing investigation.
Source: India Today