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Gunman Wounds Secret Service Agent at Correspondents Dinner

Published 28 April 2026

A gunman breached security at the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington, D.C., on Saturday evening, firing shots that wounded a Secret Service agent and prompted the evacuation of President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and several Cabinet members before the suspect was apprehended.

The incident unfolded shortly after 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time at the Washington Hilton Hotel, where attendees had gathered for the annual event. Federal officials identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California. Video footage shared by Trump on Truth Social showed Allen running past barricades toward a security checkpoint. Secret Service agents responded by returning fire, tackling him to the ground, and taking him into custody. The agent who was shot sustained minor injuries thanks to a bullet-resistant vest and is recovering, according to officials.

Trump, who was watching a performance inside the ballroom when gunfire erupted, praised the response on social media. "Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job," he wrote. "They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended." Despite his suggestion to...

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