...
By Ellie Cook
Senior Defense Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Erika Kirk broke down in tears as she was led out of the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, shortly after shots rang out in the ballroom where the event was in full swing.
The widow of prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot during a speech at a college campus in September last year, was seen by Newsweek being comforted by FBI Director Kash Patel close to the exit as attendees were being evacuated.
Several Newsweek reporters and editors were attending the event as gunfire erupted at the Washington Hilton around 8:35 p.m. ET. Guests quickly dived for cover and Secret Service agents evacuated President Donald Trump and other senior administration officials from the room.
Read More on News
In a post to X on Monday, Kirk posted, "Saturday was yet another traumatic example of the evil in our country and the continued rise in political violence. I’m taking time to spend with my family. I will be joining The Charlie Kirk Show Wednesday at 12PM ET to briefly address what took place. Enough is enough."
...
Less than an hour later, Trump said the alleged gunman had been "apprehended."
Multiple media outlets later named the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen.
In separate social media posts, Trump shared CCTV footage appearing to show a man racing through a security checkpoint, followed by a photograph of a man in handcuffs face-down on a carpeted floor.
A clip filmed at the hotel appears to show Kirk, who took over from her deceased husband as chief executive of conservative nonprofit Turning Point USA, being escorted from the hotel.
"I just want to go home," she can be heard saying.
The U.S. attorney for Washington, Jeanine Pirro, said the suspect would be formally charged Monday on counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on federal officers using a dangerous weapon.
Photos have emerged of law enforcement officers searching an address in Torrance, California. The mayor of Torrance, which sits in southwestern Los Angeles, said city officials were "aware of reports identifying the suspect as a resident of Torrance," but said the city "stands firmly against political violence, extremist, and acts of hatred in any form."
One Secret Service agent was shot during the incident, but was wearing a bulletproof vest. Trump said the agent was in "good spirits."
The officer has been released from a hospital, U.S. media reported early Sunday.
Footage quickly emerged of Trump being rushed from the vast space by multiple agents, while another clip showed an agent dragging Vice President JD Vance from his seat.
Trump said he had initially mistaken the sound of gunshots for a tray clattering in the room.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines