The US President described the shooter as a ‘lone wolf whack job’ while posting footage from the event online.
A gunman carrying “multiple weapons” attempted to storm a Washington dinner attended by Donald Trump on Saturday night. The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner descended into chaos as the US President, who had previously been the target of an assassination attempt, was swiftly evacuated by Secret Service agents.
One officer, who was shot but protected by his bulletproof vest, was hospitalised. The suspect, who was allegedly armed with a shotgun and handgun, has since been identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from Torrance, California.
It is understood that he was a guest at the Washington Hilton hotel, where the event was being held. As reported by the Mirror, Allen faces charges including assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has announced that additional charges will be filed.
Trump addressed the media following the shooting and posted images on his Truth Social platform of the suspected shooter handcuffed on the ground.
The President stated: “My impression is he was a lone wolf whack job. These are crazy people.”
Trump praised the work of the Secret Service, adding that the suspected gunman was not close to breaching the ballroom where he was seated on stage at the time of the incident.
He continued: “I saw a room that was just totally unified. It was, in one way, very beautiful, a very beautiful thing. To see a man charge a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of the Secret Service, and they acted very quickly.”
He added: “It is always shocking when something like this happens.” Washington mayor Muriel Bowser stated she had “no reason” to believe anyone else was involved.
Mr Blanche said: “Tonight you saw the very worst and the very best of this country. You saw the very worst by the actions of that coward… but you also saw the very best because you saw law enforcement do exactly what they’re supposed to do. I promise you justice will be served.”
Trump added that the event would be rescheduled in the next 30 days. The Washington Hilton has been the site of a previous attempted presidential assassination when then president Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr outside the hotel in 1981. This led to security being heightened at the property.
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