WASHINGTON, D.C. – The President, Vice President and other top officials are unharmed following Saturday night’s shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. The suspected gunman has been detained. Officials said a federal agent who was shot is recovering. Following the incident, the President said the suspected gunman had written what he describes as a manifesto without offering details. Our Washington, D.C. correspondents were in attendance at the dinner and share what they experienced.
Just a few minutes into the dinner program, we heard several loud booms coming from outside of the ballroom where we sat for the annual WHCA dinner. We immediately dropped to the floor for cover, unaware of where the shots were fired or their direction. Several people moved away from the exit doors.
Secret Service and other federal agents rushed in and ushered out Cabinet Secretaries, top administration officials and the President and Vice President.
There was widespread confusion about the situation and what was happening. As many of the attendees remained on the floor, some people began to shout: “God Bless America!” “USA!”
Our other DC correspondent, Brendan Scanland, took shelter nearby and checked in with me minutes after officials were escorted out.
“It sounded like it was coming from right over there up the stairs,” said Scanland in a video recording.
“Yeah, yes,” responded Rachel Knapp in the same video recording.
“Are you alright,” asked Scanland.
“Yeah I’m a little shaken,” responded Knapp. “Are you ok?”
“Yes, yes,” responded Scanland.
The President shared a video online of what looks like the suspected gunman, who officials identified as 31-year-old California man, Cole Tomas Allen, rushing through security. He was detained at the event. Officials said he was carrying knives, a shotgun and a handgun, but security stopped him before reaching the ballroom.
“It’s always shocking when something like this happens,” said the President at a press briefing immediately after the incident.
The President, First Lady and other top officials who were in attendance were unharmed. The President shared what he was thinking about when he heard the gun shots:
“I heard a noise and at first I thought it was a tray,” said the President. “I thought it was a tray going down I’ve heard that many times and it was a loud noise and it was quite far away, he hadn’t breached the area. But it was quite far away but it was a gun.”
The investigation is ongoing. This shooting revives questions about political violence in our country as well as the President’s security. He has previously faced two different assassination attempts.
