A gunman fired shots in the hotel hosting the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Saturday, causing United States President Donald Trump and his cabinet to be rushed out before the suspect was taken into custody.
Here is a timeline of the incident and its immediate aftermath.
Around 8:35pm ET (5:35am PKT on Sunday): Guests at the Washington Hilton dinner took cover when shots were heard, video footage showed.
Soon after, Secret Service agents rushed towards Trump, escorting the president and his cabinet from the ballroom.
U.S. President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and CBS News senior White House correspondent Weijia Jiang attend the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, DC, US, April 25,. — Reuters
A sole gunman had rushed a Secret Service checkpoint in a lobby, Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll later told reporters.
The suspect charged the Secret Service checkpoint in the hotel’s lobby area and was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives, Carroll said.
Agents draw their guns after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents’ dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25. — AFP
As the suspect ran through that checkpoint, Secret Service members intercepted him.
Agents draw their guns after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents’ dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25. — AFP
A screen grab taken from a video filmed by an AFP reporter shows an armed agent climbing over chairs as they move to the stage after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents’ dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25. — AFP
US President Donald Trump is escorted out after a man opened fire with a shotgun on security personnel outside the room, during the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026, in this still image from video. — Reuters
A Secret Service agent was injured and transported to a local hospital, the mayor said, adding the suspect was also transferred to a local hospital where he was evaluated.
Guests head back to White House following a shooting incident during the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25. — Reuters
“We do know that law enforcement exchanged gunfire with the individual. … The suspect in this case, he was not struck by gunfire,” Carroll said.
“Law enforcement … they actually tackled him into the ground and handcuffed him.”
Cole Tomas Allen, a suspect in the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, lies on the floor after being detained by law enforcement personnel, in Washington, DC, US, April 25, 2026, in this screengrab from a video. — Reuters
Around 9:17pm ET (6:17am PKT): Trump made his first comments after the shooting, saying law enforcement “acted quickly and bravely.”
Trump posted on Truth Social that “the shooter has been apprehended”. Trump said he recommended that the event continue.
Guests take cover after U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were rushed out of the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner by Secret Service agents when a man opened fire with a shotgun on security personnel outside the room, in Washington, DC, US April 25. — Reuters
Reporters, including US journalist Wolf Blitzer (C-R), hold their phones after shots were fired during the White House Correspondents’ dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25. — AFP
Guests embrace following a shooting incident during the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, DC, US, April 25. — Reuters
Security officials evacuate guests as a shooter opens fire during the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, DC, US, April 25. — Reuters
Guests embrace following a shooting incident during the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, DC, US, April 25. — Reuters
About 20 minutes later: Trump posted again, saying law enforcement asked him and others to leave the premises and that he was complying with that request. The event will be rescheduled “within 30 days”, Trump said.
This illustration photo taken in Los Angeles shows a phone with a Truth Social post by US President Donald Trump displaying an image of the alleged suspect in a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on the ground after being apprehended on April 25. — AFP
Guests embrace one another following a shooting incident during the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, DC, US, April 25. — Reuters
Around 10:30pm ET (7:30am PKT): Trump addressed the media in a press conference at the White House, accompanied by the director of the FBI and the acting US attorney general.
US President Donald Trump holds a press briefing at the White House, following a shooting incident during the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, in Washington, DC, US, April 25. — Reuters
First lady Melania Trump looks on next to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as US President Donald Trump holds a press briefing at the White House on April 25. — Reuters
Trump and other law enforcement officials said preliminary information suggested the suspect was a lone shooter.
US President Donald Trump speaks next to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel at a press briefing at the White House, following a shooting incident during the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner, in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25. — Reuters
US Vice President JD Vance listens as US President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC, shortly after a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on April 25. — AFP
Journalists raise hands to ask questions as US President Donald Trump holds a press briefing at the White House, following a shooting incident during the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, in Washington, DC, US, April 25. — Reuters
Around 11:13 pm ET (8:13am PKT): Jeanine Pirro, the US Attorney for the District of Columbia, told reporters the suspect was being charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.
FBI agents enter the residence area associated with Cole Tomas Allen, the suspect in the shooting incident at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, D.C., in Torrance, California, US. on April 25,. — Reuters
A journalist walks back after knocking on the door of the residence associated with Cole Tomas Allen, the suspect in the shooting incident at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, DC. in Torrance, California, US on April 25. — Reuters
FBI agents point a spotlight at a window of the residence associated with Cole Tomas Allen, the suspect in the shooting incident at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, DC, in Torrance, California, US, April 25. — Reuters
FBI agents leave the residence associated with Cole Tomas Allen, the suspect in the shooting incident at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, DC, in Torrance, California, US, April 26. — Reuters
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