Shots Fired at White House Correspondents' Dinner; Trump Unhurt, Suspect in Custody
Gunshots erupted at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington on Saturday night, forcing President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to be rushed to safety by Secret Service. A suspect identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from California was taken into custody and faces federal charges.
Incident Details
President Donald Trump was rushed off stage unhurt at the White House Correspondents' Dinner after shots were fired, with an attacker armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives charging through a security checkpoint.
Suspect Identification
The suspect was identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from California, who is in custody and will be charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon. Allen is a teacher and has been a video game programmer. A spokeswoman for the California Institute of Technology said a person named Cole Allen had earned an undergraduate degree in 2017.
International Response
The UK and US discussed security planning for King Charles' planned state visit following the incident, with Buckingham Palace stating His Majesty is being kept fully informed and that King Charles and Queen Camilla reached out privately to President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on X that he and his wife were shocked by the incident and relieved the President and First Lady are safe.