How shooting at White House Correspondents’ Dinner unfolded

A shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC prompted a swift security response, leading to the evacuation of US President Donald Trump and other attendees, officials said.

The incident took place on Saturday evening at the Washington Hilton, where the annual event was underway. At approximately 8:35pm ET, gunfire was reported near a security checkpoint, causing guests inside the ballroom to take cover as United States Secret Service agents moved quickly to secure the area and escort the president and his cabinet to safety.

According to local authorities, a lone suspect armed with multiple weapons, including a shotgun and handgun, attempted to breach a checkpoint in the hotel lobby.

Law enforcement officers intercepted and subdued the individual after a brief confrontation. One Secret Service officer sustained injuries but was taken to hospital and reported to be in stable condition.

By around 9:17pm ET, Trump said the suspect had been apprehended and praised law enforcement for their response. He later confirmed the event would be rescheduled.

At a press briefing later in the evening, officials, including representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, said initial findings suggested the attacker acted alone.

Prosecutors indicated that charges include use of a firearm during a violent crime and assault on a federal officer.