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Photos show chaotic scene during shooting at the White House correspondents’ dinner

WTOP Staff

April 26, 2026, 5:44 AM

Journalists, celebrities and politicians ducked under tables and chairs when shots were fired at the White House correspondents’ dinner at the Washington Hilton Saturday, April 25, 2026. Human rights activist Kerry Kennedy posted on X, “A loud bang of gun shots, then ‘Get down, get down, get down!'”

Photos from The Associated Press captured the scene as law enforcement officers and Secret Service agents jumped into action to capture and apprehend the shooter, who was armed with guns and knives.

APTOPIX Trump White House Correspondents Dinner 1/13
President Donald Trump arrives at the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House after an unspecified threat at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in Washington, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)
President Donald Trump arrives at the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House after an unspecified threat at the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)
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Secret service agents respond during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)
Secret service agents respond during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)
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A law enforcement officer sets up police tape near an address connected to Cole Tomas Allen, the shooting suspect at the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Torrance, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
4/13
District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser walks into a news conference following a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner Saturday. (WTOP/Jimmy Alexander)
5/13
A news conference was held following a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner Saturday. (WTOP/Jimmy Alexander)
6/13
A news conference was held following a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner Saturday. (WTOP/Jimmy Alexander)
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Members of law enforcement respond during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)
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Secret Service agents respond during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
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U.S. Secret Service agents respond near President Donald Trump during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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Members of law enforcement control shooting suspect Cole Tomas Allen during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser speaks at a news conference following a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in Washington, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)
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The National Guard respond to an incident at the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
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Law enforcement officials direct traffic outside the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

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