White House correspondents’ dinner shooting live updates: Suspected shooter ‘sought to assassinate the president,’ Leavitt says
White House Correspondents’ Dinner Shooting: Suspect Aimed to Assassinate President, Says Leavitt
Following a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner held Saturday evening at the Washington, D.C., Hilton hotel, President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and other high-profile attendees remain unharmed. The Secret Service confirmed the incident occurred close to the primary security checkpoint area during the event.
Law enforcement has detained Cole Allen, a resident of Torrance, California, as the individual responsible for the attack. According to officials, the suspect was identified shortly after the incident. The Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department reported that a Secret Service agent, who was wearing protective gear, sustained a chest wound but is expected to recover.
“The shooter’s intent was to assassinate the president,” stated Leavitt, a Secret Service spokesperson, during a press conference. No further details on the motive were disclosed at this time.
No additional casualties were reported beyond the agent’s injury. The incident is currently under investigation to determine the exact circumstances and underlying reasons for the attack.