Correspondents’ dinner gunman believed to be guest at DC hotel where event was held
A gunman believed to be staying at the Washington Hilton-where the White House Correspondents’ Dinner took place-opened fire outside the main ballroom. The attacker charged a security checkpoint, shot a Secret Service agent in the hotel lobby with a shotgun, and was later apprehended after an exchange of gunfire.
Police said the suspect, widely identified as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old teacher from Los Angeles, was taken into custody via a pursuit that involved agents discharging their weapons. The Secret Service agent had a protective vest and was hospitalized but is in good spirits; Allen was also hospitalized.
Officers reported finding a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives on Allen. Officials said it isn’t clear whether he was targeting President Trump, though Trump was present during the shooting. The Secret Service agent was assaulted while performing duties, and prosecutors described charges including use of a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer.
The gunman who opened fire outside the main ballroom of the White House correspondents’ dinner is currently believed to be a guest at the Washington Hilton, the hotel where the event was being held.
On Saturday night, a gunman charged a security checkpoint and shot a Secret Service agent in the lobby of the hotel, before being apprehended. The shooting led to Trump administration officials and their families to be frantically escorted out of the ballroom, as well as thousands of attendees taking cover below tables. The annual dinner was later canceled and will be rescheduled.
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D.C. Police chief Jeff Carroll revealed new details about the shooting in a press conference on Saturday night, alongside U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, Mayor Muriel Bowser, and FBI and Secret Service officials.
The suspect, who has been widely identified as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old teacher from Los Angeles, California, charged the security checkpoint, shooting the agent with a shotgun. Agents then discharged their weapons and pursued Allen, exchanging gunfire and later tackling and handcuffing him.
The Secret Service agent was wearing a protective vest and was hospitalized. He is in “good spirits,” according to Carroll. Allen was not struck by gunfire but was also hospitalized.
Agents found on Allen the shotgun, one handgun, and “multiple” knives. He is also believed to be a guest at the hotel and a room in the hotel has now been secured, Carroll said.
MAN CHARGED SECURITY CHECKPOINT AND SHOT SECRET SERVICE AT WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS’ DINNER: TRUMP
Pirro said Allen is facing two charges, specifically using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer.
Carroll also said it is unclear whether Allen was allegedly “targeting” Trump, though he acknowledged the president’s presence at the event at the time of the shooting. Carroll added that he was not on the D.C.’s police’s radar.
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