US3 min(s) read
Published 09:44 26 Apr 2026 GMT
Panic tore through the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday night after a gunman opened fire near the ballroom, sending more than 2,000 guests diving for cover and triggering a dramatic evacuation of top political figures.
Among those rushed out was Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk and CEO of Turning Point USA, who was described as visibly shaken and in tears as security moved her from the Washington Hilton. Kirk repeatedly said, “I just want to go home. I just want to go home,” as seen in footage shared after the event.
The frightening scene came more than six months after her husband was shot dead at a speaking event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. Witnesses also described Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. being carried out by his security detail, with one agent supporting each side as his feet dragged along the floor.
The shooting reportedly broke out about 20 minutes after President Donald Trump arrived at the event he has boycotted since 2011. Authorities said alleged gunman Cole Tomas Allen, 31, fired multiple shots while storming a security checkpoint and rushing toward the ballroom with a shotgun and multiple knives.
Harrowing footage showed guests scrambling under tables as Secret Service agents moved rapidly to secure the room. Trump, first lady Melania Trump and senior officials were evacuated as the suspect was subdued in the lobby.
One Secret Service agent was shot “from a very close distance with a very powerful gun” during the mayhem but survived after his bulletproof vest stopped the blast, Trump said. The agent is being treated at a local hospital.
An eyewitness told The New York Post that Kennedy appeared disoriented and “delirious” while being rushed from the gala with his wife Cheryl Hines.
Kirk was also seen being escorted from the hotel after the gunfire erupted, in one of the most dramatic moments of the night. The eyewitness account painted a scene of confusion and fear as guests and officials tried to process what was happening in real time.
Police believe Allen was a guest at the hotel, where the annual event honoring the Washington press corps is held each year. The suspect, identified as a teacher and Caltech graduate from Torrance, California, was quickly taken down by Secret Service agents.
DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the gunman is charged with assault on a federal law enforcement officer and two counts of using a gun to commit violence. He is expected to be arraigned on Monday in federal court, with more charges possible.
Authorities also said Allen allegedly assembled a long weapon in an unsecured room before the shooting. Investigators continue to examine how he reached the security checkpoint armed.
The shocking attack left attendees rattled, with Kirk’s repeated plea, “I just want to go home. I just want to go home,” capturing the fear inside the Washington Hilton as the black-tie event descended into chaos.
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