The incident occurred on April 25 at a dinner attended by U.S. President Donald Trump at the Washington Hilton hotel in Washington. Gunshots rang out during the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner, after which Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance were quickly escorted out of the hall; according to witnesses, guests were forced to hide under tables.

Reports say the Washington Hilton building was cordoned off by Secret Service units, and helicopters were circling overhead. The suspect was detained: according to preliminary information, this was 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen from California, who was armed with a shotgun and, while trying to get into the hall, shot a Secret Service officer.