Gunfire sparked panic during a major political event in Washington DC on Saturday night.
An event attended by senior politicians, diplomats, journalists, and public figures descended into chaos after shots were heard inside a Washington DC hotel hosting the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Authorities have not yet confirmed an official motive for the shooting.
However, CBS News reported that the suspected gunman allegedly told investigators he was targeting officials linked to the Trump administration.
Security forces quickly responded and stopped the suspect, according to early reports.
Former Secret Service agent Barry Donadio said he watched footage of the incident in shock and noted that the hotel likely had a strong security presence.
He added that officers appeared to have had only seconds to react once the shooting began. The incident renewed concerns over political violence and security threats in the United States.
Questions are also growing over how a suspect was able to open fire inside one of Washington’s most high-profile gatherings.
Investigations are ongoing as officials work to determine the full motive and security failures behind the attack.