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Jacqui Heinrich, a senior White House correspondents\u2019 association board member, described the chaos at the White House Correspondents\u2019 Association Dinner after shots were fired when a gunman tried to force entry into the ballroom. She said Secret Service agents rushed the stage to evacuate President Donald Trump,Melania Trump,Vice President JD Vance,and other officials,and that she briefly hid backstage while agents assessed whether the threat was contained.<\/p>\n

Police identified the suspect as Cole Allen, a 31-year-old teacher from torrance, California. He was taken into custody after a brief gunfight that left a Secret Service agent wounded, and he faces federal charges including<\/a> using a firearm in a violent crime and assaulting a federal officer. Heinrich also discussed Trump\u2019s reaction-wanting to stay and deliver remarks-before he left for the White House under secret Service protection protocols. <\/p>\n