WASHINGTON- President Trump was evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Association. dinner Saturday night after shots were heard and one person was taken into custody.
A Times reporter who attended the dinner took refuge in a bathroom after the incident. He said he heard about four or five gunshots around 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time. He said a security guard told him the person may have had a gun and was shot. It was unclear whether the person was dead or injured.
According to several witnesses at the scene, an unknown man ran into the dining room and was met with gunfire. A hotel security guard said he observed the individual with a firearm. Several other witnesses said they were not sure if the individual was in possession of a gun.
Video taken by the journalist showed a person on the ground surrounded by law enforcement officers as people were ordered to evacuate the area.
Video taken by CSPAN showed President Trump and first lady Melania Trump sitting on stage as federal agents and Secret Service officers led them away, while other officers stood guard with assault rifles. Someone in the room can be heard shouting, “Get down.”
White House officials said the president and first lady are safe.
Trump said on Truth Social that he planned to hold a press conference and would reschedule the dinner in 30 days.
“The First Lady, plus the Vice President and all members of the Cabinet, are in perfect condition,” he said in his publication. “We'll be talking to you in half an hour.”
Outside the ballroom, Secret Service, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and other federal agents were stationed in the hallways leading to the room.
The guests dispersed and many made phone calls. Most attendees seemed calm, although some seemed shaken. Some were crowded near the bathrooms, talking. Anti-war protesters remained on the street in front of the hotel where the event was taking place.
A presidential motorcade was seen outside the Washington Hilton hotel around 8:45 p.m., although Trump appeared to be at the hotel.
At around the same time, an ambulance arrived at the scene and about 100 event attendees were escorted from the venue.
The White House Correspondents' Dinner is an annual event hosted by the White House Correspondents' Association. (WHCA), a group of journalists who cover the White House. The dinner includes a speech by the sitting president, journalists and presenters, often comedians.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Times staff writers Andrea Castillo and Ana Ceballos contributed to this report.
