Shots Fired Near White House Correspondents' Dinner; Witness: Suspect Assembled Weapon in Hidden Space
Gunfire erupted during the White House Correspondents' Dinner attended by Donald Trump. The suspect was arrested after assembling a weapon in a poorly secured area.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 26, 2026 at 22:14
- 🔍 Collected: April 26, 2026 at 22:31 (17 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 27, 2026 at 01:47 (3h 15m after Collected)
Gunfire broke out near the White House Correspondents' Dinner while U.S. President Donald Trump was in attendance last night. The shooter has been apprehended. A witness revealed that the suspect assembled a 'long' weapon in a loosely monitored area near the terrace level entrance before opening fire and attempting to rush into the ballroom.
Following the shots, Trump and several officials were urgently evacuated from the scene. Law enforcement officers subsequently subdued the gunman. Trump later posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating, 'Washington D.C. had a rough night. The Secret Service and law enforcement were fantastic—their actions were swift and heroic. The shooter has been arrested.' He also shared surveillance footage revealing the shooter to be 31-year-old California man Cole Thomas Allen.
According to a report by the New York Post, the witness, Helen Mabus—a banquet volunteer from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania—described a 'temporary space' near the entrance used for wine and food carts that had 'no security' at the time. 'He was in that space... taking something (a weapon) out of a bag or something,' Mabus said, adding that the weapon was 'long' and 'didn't look like a normal gun.'
Mabus noted that the suspect's actions inside the temporary space went unnoticed by security personnel until he suddenly moved toward the ballroom. 'After he assembled it... he ran toward the stairs, preparing to go down to the ballroom,' she said. The gunman then began firing in multiple directions, causing guests and staff to scramble for cover. Mabus estimated she heard 'at least 10 shots' and described the scene as one of 'constant screaming and running' as the Secret Service and armed law enforcement rushed to the location. Mabus fled in the opposite direction and did not witness the arrest but added that the chaos occurred near the hallway leading to the ballroom where hundreds of VIPs were gathered.
Following the shots, Trump and several officials were urgently evacuated from the scene. Law enforcement officers subsequently subdued the gunman. Trump later posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating, 'Washington D.C. had a rough night. The Secret Service and law enforcement were fantastic—their actions were swift and heroic. The shooter has been arrested.' He also shared surveillance footage revealing the shooter to be 31-year-old California man Cole Thomas Allen.
According to a report by the New York Post, the witness, Helen Mabus—a banquet volunteer from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania—described a 'temporary space' near the entrance used for wine and food carts that had 'no security' at the time. 'He was in that space... taking something (a weapon) out of a bag or something,' Mabus said, adding that the weapon was 'long' and 'didn't look like a normal gun.'
Mabus noted that the suspect's actions inside the temporary space went unnoticed by security personnel until he suddenly moved toward the ballroom. 'After he assembled it... he ran toward the stairs, preparing to go down to the ballroom,' she said. The gunman then began firing in multiple directions, causing guests and staff to scramble for cover. Mabus estimated she heard 'at least 10 shots' and described the scene as one of 'constant screaming and running' as the Secret Service and armed law enforcement rushed to the location. Mabus fled in the opposite direction and did not witness the arrest but added that the chaos occurred near the hallway leading to the ballroom where hundreds of VIPs were gathered.