NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) – Just as salads hit the table at Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, gunshots rang out and chaos ensued.
PIX11 News’ Dan Mannarino heard the gunshots very clearly and ducked down before the news had even reached the front of the room, where President Donald Trump sat on stage.
“We heard the shots and immediately hit the floor, as did the tables around us,” Mannarino said. “People were dropping their plates, and dropping their utensils … know it was very clear where I was sitting that these were gunshots.”
Mannarino describes the hectic moments after a gunman charged the premises, trying to penetrate the hotel ballroom where Trump and Cabinet secretaries were assembled.
They were spirited out unharmed and the crowd of 2,300 hunkered down in gasps, confusion, broken plates and spilled wine.
After Mannarino heard the gunshots, a ripple effect spread as people at the front of the room started catching wind of the potential danger. Mannarino described the moment Secret Service agents came running in, jumping over tables, to cover administration officials like Pete Hegseth and Kash Patel.
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“They’re literally covering them, saying ‘stay down, stay down,’” Mannarino said.
Cole Tomas Allen was taken into custody after the shooting on Saturday night and is being charged in federal court in Washington.
Watch the video player for the full interview.
This story comprises reporting from the Associated Press.
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