U.S. President Donald Trump was rushed to safety after a gunman opened fire near the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, in a possible assassination attempt.
The incident unfolded on Saturday night at the Washington Hilton hotel, where the annual event was being held. According to the BBC, a man armed with a shotgun, handgun and knives attempted to breach a security checkpoint before firing shots.
Secret Service agents immediately moved to shield the president and evacuate him, along with First Lady Melania Trump and senior government officials. Journalists and other dignitaries at the event described scenes of confusion as attendees ducked under tables while armed agents flooded the ballroom.
Authorities said the suspect was quickly gunned down and is believed to have acted alone. A Secret Service agent was struck during the confrontation but survived after being protected by a bullet-resistant vest. No guests at the dinner were reported injured.
Speaking after the incident, Trump described the attack as “shocking” and praised the rapid response of law enforcement, calling the suspect a “very sick person.”
What is the White House Correspondents Dinner
The dinner, which typically draws politicians, journalists and celebrities, was abruptly cancelled following the shooting. Around 2,000 to 2,600 attendees had gathered for the event, which is traditionally used to celebrate press freedom.
However, the main purpose of the dinner is to raise money for young journalism students across the country. These students get financial support from the White House Correspondents’ Association.
Each student is paired with a mentor who is a member of the association and a working White House reporter. They are also invited to attend the dinner.
Officials including Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said there was no immediate evidence of additional suspects, though investigations remain ongoing.
Similar Incident at Same Hotel 45 Years Ago
Saturday’s shooting reminds one of an incident took place at the same Washington Hilton on Connecticut Avenue – the hotel in which Ronald Reagan was shot and wounded in 1981.
That shooting took place on 30 March 1981, when the culprit, John Hinckley Jr, shot at Reagan as he was returning to his limousine after a speaking engagement inside the hotel.
Reagan survived, but was seriously wounded by a bullet that ricocheted off the side of a presidential limousine and hit him in the torso, breaking a rib and puncturing one of his lungs. He was rushed to the nearby George Washington University Hospital, and was eventually released on 11 April.
The then-White House Press Secretary, James Brady, was wounded in the same incident, as was a Secret Service agent and a local Metropolitan Police department officer.
Brady suffered brain damage during he incident and was left disabled for the rest of his life. His injuries plagued him for the rest of his life and contributed to his death in 2014.
The following year, Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity, but was confined to a high-security portion of Washington’s St Elizabeth’s Hospital until being discharged in 2016.
