{"id":287185,"date":"2026-04-26T20:05:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T20:05:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/287185\/"},"modified":"2026-04-26T20:05:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T20:05:15","slug":"secret-service-officer-shot-at-press-dinner-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/287185\/","title":{"rendered":"Secret Service officer shot at press dinner event"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gunshots broke out at the White House Correspondents\u2019 Dinner Saturday night, causing President Donald Trump and the first lady to be escorted from the event. The investigation is ongoing, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Todd Blanche, who said charges will be filed soon.<\/p>\n

\u201cI promise you justice will be served,\u201d Blanch said.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what you need to know.<\/p>\n

\"President President Donald Trump speaks, flanked by FBI Director Kash Patel and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C. shortly after a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on April 25, 2026. MANDEL NGAN AFP via Getty Images Is the president safe?<\/p>\n

President Donald Trump and the first lady were escorted from the event, Trump said during a Saturday night press conference. When the incident unfolded, Trump said he was shocked and that at first he thought it could be trays falling.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always shocking when something like this happens to me,\u201d Trump said<\/p>\n

\"Emergency Emergency responders return to their truck pushing a gurney carrying equipment outside the Washington Hilton after shots were heard during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., on April 25, 2026. ALEX WROBLEWSKI AFP via Getty Images Was anyone shot?<\/p>\n

During the press conference, Trump said one Secret Service officer was shot. The officer was wearing a bulletproof vest at the time of the incident.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was shot from a very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job,\u201d Trump said. \u201cI just spoke to the officer, and he\u2019s doing great.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"U.S. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance is escorted after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents\u2019 Association Dinner April 25, 2026, in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. Andrew Harnik Gettyimages What do we know about the suspected shooter?<\/p>\n

The Associated Press reported the suspected shooter is Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance<\/a>, California. During the press conference, Trump said the suspected shooter was from California and that investigators will search his apartment.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was a guy who looked pretty evil when he was down,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n

What was it like inside the venue?<\/p>\n

Trump was on stage when the shooting took place, he said during the press conference. He said he was \u201cwhisked away\u201d from the event. Meanwhile, attendees crouched for safety beside tables.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were whisked away, along with other people,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was very quick, there wasn\u2019t a lot of time for thinking. Because it was a matter of seconds before we were out the door.\u201d<\/p>\n

One attendee, CNN reporter Wolf Blitzer, said he was \u201ca few feet away\u201d<\/a> from who he believes was the gunman at the time of the shooting.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll 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,\u201d Blitzer said.<\/p>\n

\"WASHINGTON, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino jumps over a chair at the White House Correspondents\u2019 Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated when gun shots were fired. Chip Somodevilla Getty Images <\/p>\n

Sounds of screaming and what appeared to be \u201cplates shattering\u201d<\/a> rang through the venue, according to New York Times reporter Shawn McCreesh.<\/p>\n

\u201cA Secret Service agent in a tuxedo had escorted me to the men\u2019s room moments before the shooting began in the hall just outside,\u201d McCreesh wrote in a live blog<\/a>. \u201cWe heard screaming and what sounded like plates shattering. We darted out of the bathroom. As we turned the corner, other agents had their guns drawn and pointed directly at us. They started screaming at us to run across the hall and get low.\u201d<\/p>\n

Who else was there?<\/p>\n

U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Bonsall, said he was among those in attendance.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI was there at the event tonight,\u201d Issa said in a post. \u201cAnd I\u2019ll be there again or anywhere else to support this president.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is the reality of what @realDonaldTrump<\/a> faces every day – and for years before that. This is a man of uncommon courage. <\/p>\n

I was there at the event tonight. And I\u2019ll be there again or anywhere else to support this president.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Rep. Darrell Issa (@repdarrellissa) April 26, 2026<\/a> What is the White House Correspondents\u2019 Dinner?<\/p>\n

The White House Correspondents\u2019 Dinner is the main fundraiser for the White House Correspondents\u2019 Association, according to its website. It raises funds for scholarships, events and programs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The annual event began in 1921 and every president has attended at least once since President Calvin Coolidge in 1924, according to the association, which itself formed in 1914.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe original mission was to keep Wilson from ending his press conferences,\u201d The White House Correspondents\u2019 Association said on its website. \u201cThe group has expanded its mission to pushing for broader access to the White House and supporting vigorous reporting on the presidency.\u201d<\/p>\n

The dinner has been a source of internet memes<\/a> and criticism of the press corps\u2019<\/a> relationship with federal officials.<\/p>\n

This story was originally published April 26, 2026 at 5:00 AM.<\/p>\n

Related Stories from Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n


\n \"Profile
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

Corey Schmidt<\/a><\/p>\n

The Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n

Corey Schmidt is a watchdog reporter for the Sacramento Bee, focusing on Folsom, El Dorado Hills and Sacramento County\u2019s eastern suburbs. Previously, he was the government watchdog reporter for the St. Cloud Times in Minnesota. Schmidt received his bachelor\u2019s degree from DePaul University in Chicago and his master\u2019s degree from Yale University.\u00a0\n <\/p>\n