Southland residents were awaiting further details Saturday evening after reporters and Trump Administration officials in tuxedos and gowns were forced to duck under tables when shots were heard outside the Washington D.C. ballroom where President Donald Trump was about to address his first White House Correspondents’ dinner.
A Los Angeles Times reporter claimed he heard four to five gunshots around 8:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and had to shelter inside a restroom at the Washington Hilton. Security told the reporter a person may have had a firearm. The reporter said an ambulance arrived at the scene.
U.S. Secret Service rushed President Trump out of the hotel and back to the White House, according to reports.
Vice President JD Vance was also rushed out, according to reports.
CNN’s Wolf Blitzer was quoted on the news agency’s site, “All the sudden, a guy with a weapon, it was a very, very serious weapon, it starts shooting, and I happened to have been a few feet away from him as he was shooting.”
President Trump posted on X: “Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job … The shooter has been apprehended.” He said he recommended that the show go on but it was up to law enforcement.
The event was later canceled.
The media pool reporter, a representative of the Washington Times stated that the president’s motorcade was headed back to The White House, saying “fastest motorcade I’ve ever been in.” Trump is expected to make a public address.
The U.S. Secret Service stated the shooting took place near the main magnetonometer screening area, and that “One individual is in custody. The condition of those involved is not yet known, and law enforcement is actively assessing the situation.”
Media reports indicated the shots were heard right after a the singing of the national anthem.
A description of the suspect was not provided.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom posted on X to say he was “Relieved everyone at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is safe tonight based on initial reports. A free press is foundational to our country. Violence is never acceptable.”
Rep. Nannette Barragan said she attended the dinner as a guest of C-SPAN. “It’s absolute chaos. Heard the shots and had to get under our table. Grateful for the immediate response from the USSS and security as they worked to apprehend the shooter and secure the area. Political violence is never, EVER the answer. It must end.”
The Secret Service and Metropolitan Police Department were investigating.