Washington, April 26: A shooting incident occurred during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner held at the Washington Hilton. President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and other officials were present at the event. Fortunately, everyone was safely evacuated. According to U.S. media reports, law enforcement has identified a suspect in the shooting.
CNN reported that the suspect is a 30-year-old man from California. Witnesses indicated that a U.S. Secret Service officer was shot during the dinner on Saturday night. The bullet struck the officer’s protective gear, and he was taken to a local hospital. Sources suggest that the officer is expected to recover, a sentiment echoed by President Trump.
Attendee Erin Thilman told CNN that security shot a man after he fell to the ground. The man had a magazine hanging from his shoulder and was armed with a rifle. Thilman reported hearing three gunshots, but it remains unclear if the man fired any shots.
This incident follows a previous assassination attempt on Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024, where a gunman fired multiple shots at him, one narrowly missing his ear. In that instance, five Secret Service agents rushed the stage to protect Trump and apprehend the shooter. Just two months later, in September, Trump faced another assassination attempt at Mar-a-Lago, which the FBI classified as an attempted murder.
In this latest case, 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh has been arrested and charged with illegal possession of a firearm.
CNN also shared a video from the scene showing President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump conversing with mentalist Oz Pearlman just moments before the shooting. The video captures the crowd’s panic as a loud noise interrupts their conversation. Before Melania could fully comprehend the situation, security quickly escorted the Trumps off the stage. Another video shows attendees hiding under tables as security formed a protective barrier around the President.
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