Erika Kirk was seen in tears as gunfire caused panic at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner attended by Donald Trump. A suspect was arrested at the scene.
A night meant for political satire and red-carpet glamour descended into panic on Saturday after gunfire erupted near the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, triggering a rapid evacuation of dignitaries and guests. Among the most distressed was Erika Kirk, widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was seen crying as security escorted her out of the Washington Hilton hotel, the very hotel where president Ronald Reagan survived an assassination attempt 45 years earlier. .
Kirk, who lost her husband in a targeted campus shooting last year, appeared visibly overwhelmed during the sudden evacuation. In a widely shared video recorded by a CNN journalist, she is heard saying, “I just want to go home,” as officers guided her out of the building.
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The scare unfolded only months after her husband, Charlie Kirk, was fatally shot during an event at Utah Valley University on 10 September 2025. Investigators later described that attack as deliberate, charging 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with aggravated murder.
Gunfire sparks chaos at high-profile Gala
The shooting on Saturday occurred close to the main security checkpoint outside the ballroom as the annual dinner was getting underway. Around 2,600 guests, including US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and several cabinet members, were inside when shots rang out.
Hundreds dived beneath tables as Secret Service tactical teams moved into position. Trump was swiftly removed from the stage, while armed agents fanned out through the hall. According to authorities, a single gunman had rushed a screening point at approximately 8:36 pm.
A Secret Service officer was struck in the vest but is expected to recover. The suspect was apprehended at the scene and later transported to hospital for evaluation.
Eyewitness accounts: Panic and evacuation
According to an account cited by The New York Post, Erika Kirk was “deeply shaken,” repeating, “I just want to go home. I just want to go home.”
The same witness reported seeing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. carried out by security personnel, supported on both sides, with his feet dragging along the floor as he appeared “delirious”.
Trump applauds security response
President Trump later praised authorities in a social media post, saying: “Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended.”
He added that Melania Trump, JD Vance, and all senior officials were safe and that law enforcement had advised them to leave the premises.
Trump said the dinner would be rescheduled within 30 days and claimed the suspect had been carrying “multiple weapons,” sharing an image of the man detained.
Who was the shooter at the Correspondents dinner?
Several US outlets reported that the suspect is 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California. Trump posted photos of a shirtless man in handcuffs lying face-down on a carpeted floor, believed to be the suspect.
A LinkedIn account matching the name described Allen as a mechanical engineer, computer scientist, game developer and teacher. He reportedly graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 2017. C2 Education previously named someone with the same name “teacher of the month” in December 2024.
According to investigators, the suspect was staying at the Hilton as a hotel guest, allowing him to bypass initial layers of security before reaching the Secret Service checkpoint.
Karoline Leavitt’s remarks draw attention after shooting
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, currently on maternity leave, was also present at the dinner. She appeared on the red carpet for an interview with Fox News beforehand, where she discussed the speech she had prepared for Donald Trump.
Leavitt said the president was “ready to rumble,” promising the address would be “funny, entertaining” and “classic Donald J Trump.” She added: “there will be some shots fired tonight in the room.”
The remark drew significant attention online following the real shooting incident minutes later.
‘Multi-layered’ security prevented greater harm
Officials stated that the Hilton had been sealed to the public hours before the event, with access limited to hotel guests, accredited delegates, and dinner attendees. The 2,300 people in the ballroom passed through magnetometers and multiple ticket checks.
Inside the room, Secret Service agents maintained an additional protective perimeter around the president.
Around 8:35 pm, guests heard several shots. Security agents rushed Trump and senior officials from the stage moments later.
Metropolitan Police interim chief Jeffery Carroll said the gunman charged the checkpoint carrying a shotgun, a handgun and several knives. Agents engaged the suspect and tackled him without firing a disabling shot.
The suspect now faces two federal charges: using a firearm during a violent crime and assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, US Attorney Jeanine Pirro confirmed.
Timeline of the night
- 8:36 pm: Shots heard near the security checkpoint; ballroom erupts into panic.
- Immediately after: Secret Service evacuates Trump, Melania, JD Vance and cabinet members.
- 9:17 pm: Trump posts that the “shooter has been apprehended.”
- Shortly after: Security advises officials and guests to leave the venue.
- 10:30 pm: Trump holds a press conference at the White House with law enforcement leaders.
- 11:13 pm: US Attorney Jeanine Pirro announces the federal charges against the suspect.
(With inputs from agencies)
Published: 26 Apr 2026, 02:23 pm IST
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