A man carrying a shotgun, handgun and knives rushed a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night around 8:36 p.m. at the Washington Hilton, but was stopped before reaching the main event, officials said.
Police said the suspect ran toward a Secret Service checkpoint in the hotel lobby. Officers moved in quickly and took him down before he could get into the ballroom, where the president and hundreds of guests were gathered.
A Secret Service officer was struck during the encounter but was protected by a bulletproof vest and is expected to recover. The suspect was arrested and taken to the hospital. He was not shot.
The case is being handled by local police along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Secret Service. Officials are still working to determine how the weapons were brought into the hotel and what the suspect intended to do.
Prosecutors have filed initial charges, including using a firearm during a violent offence and assaulting a federal officer. More charges are expected.
In brief remarks after the incident, President Trump praised the response of security personnel, calling their actions “very brave” and crediting them with preventing further harm. He also confirmed he had spoken with the injured officer, who he said was in “great shape.”
Officials said the security setup at the event functioned as intended, stopping the suspect before he reached the crowd.