US PresidentDonald Trumpand other top White House officials were evacuated unharmed from the annual dinner of White House correspondents after a man armed with multiple weapons fired shots outside the ballroom of the hotel. The suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, has reportedly confessed that Trump officials were the target.

The shooting suspect told law enforcement following his arrest that he wanted to shoot Trump administration officials, CBS News reported on Sunday, citing two sources.Check Live UpdatesHere

Earlier today, Interim Washington, DC, police chief Jeffery Carroll said that the suspect had likely to be acted alone, adding that his motive and target is yet to be known.

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.

He was armed with "a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives," when he charged a Secret Service checkpoint, according to 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."

Addressing a press conference, US President Donald Trump said that the dinner shooting suspect was armed with multiple weapons before being stopped by the Secret Service.

In a statement, Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn said, "Tonight, a coward attempted to create a national tragedy. He underestimated the protective capabilities of the U.S. Secret Service, and was stopped at first contact. The strength of our layered security posture was evident, with a myriad of countermeasures still ahead. Grateful for the brave men and women of the Secret Service and our valued Law Enforcement partners."

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Apoorva Shukla is a journalist at Times Now, where she thrives on dissecting political developments both at home and abroad. A graduate of Delhi Univ...View More

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