The suspect in the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner had several weapons. He was armed with "a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives," when he charged a Secret Service checkpoint, according to Interim Washington, DC, police chief Jeffery Carroll.
"He was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives," Carroll said. As he ran through that checkpoint, members of law enforcement from the United States Secret Service intercepted that individual. Carroll added that the suspect and law enforcement officers "exchanged gunfire."
Earlier today, addressing a press conference, US President Donald Trump said that the dinner shooting suspect was armed with multiple weapons before being stopped by Secret Service.
The suspect was identified as 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen from California. Carroll said it was a lone wolf attack. "At this point, it does appear (the suspect) is a lone actor, a lone gunman," he said. According to Carroll, the suspect was a hotel guest and his target is yet to be known.
Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser said authorities have "no reason to believe at this time that anyone else was involved".
President Donald Trump was uninjured and other top leaders of the United States were evacuated from an annual dinner of White House correspondents on Saturday night after a shooting incident outside the ballroom.
One law enforcement official said a gunman had opened fire. A law enforcement officer was shot in the bullet-resistant vest but is expected to be OK, one officer told The Associated Press. The FBI said a suspect was in custody. The suspected shooter in the firing incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner has been identified by Fox News as 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen from California. His picture was posted by Trump on his social media platform, Truth Social.
The Secret Service and other authorities swarmed the banquet hall at the Washington Hilton as guests ducked under tables by the hundreds. Audible gasps echoed through the ballroom as guests realised something was happening. Hundreds of journalists got on phones to call in information.
Some in the crowd reported hearing what they believed to be five to eight shots fired. The banquet hall — where hundreds of prominent journalists, celebrities and national leaders were awaiting Trump’s remarks — was immediately evacuated. Members of the National Guard took up position inside the building as people were allowed to leave but not immediately reenter. Security outside was also extremely tight.
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