Magnetometers, Secret Service and more: The security measures that White House dinner shooter bypassed

On Saturday (April 25), the wine was flowing, and engaging conversations were being held across the ballroom of the Washington Hilton, the venue of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. US President Donald Trump sat at the main table at the glitzy media gala along with First Lady Melania Trump and other members of his administration.

Just when the buratta platter was being served at dinner, loud pops could be heard, followed by shouts of ‘get down’ and ‘stay down’. It later emerged that a gunman had breached the highly guarded event and opened fire, causing journalists and other members to take cover, while Secret Service agents quickly whisked away the American president to safety.

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The armed gunman, now identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, is in custody of the officials, while everyone else, including Trump, is safe and sound. Now, questions are being asked as to how an individual with a shotgun and other weapons managed to get access to the Washington ballroom where an extraordinary concentration of Cabinet members, high-ranking lawmakers, and celebrities were dining.

Catch the latest on the Trump dinner shooting incident here

What happened at the dinner?

CCTV footage from the Washington Hilton Hotel, the venue for the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner, shows an individual rushing past security officers, who then turn and chase him. According to the police, security officials and the suspect exchanged fire, without saying how many shots were fired. Citing police sources, CBS said at least five to eight shots were fired.

Inside the ballroom, which had more than 2,000 people, Trump and First Lady Melania were at their seats on a stage at the front of the room, talking to guests when ‘pop, pop’ sounds could be heard in the distance. Soon, armed Secret Service agents ran to the stage, while attendees were seen taking cover under the tables.

The room was quickly put on lockdown, following which the officials escorted the shocked attendees from the room. Meanwhile, Trump posted a close-up photo showing a shirtless man on the floor with his hands cuffed behind his back, with Secret Service standing around him.

He’s been identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, a little-known teacher from a suburb in Los Angeles.

What security measures did gunman Allen bypass?

Officials have said that Allen, who was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives, was able to breach the security at the event by being a guest of the Washington Hilton Hotel.

The hotel was closed to the public beginning at 2 pm on Saturday in anticipation of the dinner, which began at 8 pm. Outside, dozens of protesters gathered in the rain — mostly directing their criticism at the media attending the event.

Law enforcement personnel stand guard at the venue, following a shooting incident during the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, in Washington, DC. Reuters

Access to the hotel had been restricted to hotel guests, people with tickets to the dinner itself, an invitation to one of the receptions that are held at the hotel before or after the dinner, or documents from the White House Correspondents’ Association indicating affiliation with the dinner.

Moreover, for the guests who wished to attend the dinner, they had to pass through several additional checks to enter the room, including showing tickets to association volunteers and hotel staff and passing through magnetometers manned by the Secret Service and Transportation Security Administration.

It was not immediately released when the suspect checked into the hotel. Security camera footage released by Trump to social media shortly after the incident shows the gunman running past security officers who appear to be disassembling the metal detectors. Once the president was seated in the ballroom, additional attendees were not permitted to enter the secured area, which is why they were taking them down.

Apart from this, there were other security measures inside the ballroom itself. The Secret Service formed a perimeter around US President Trump, keeping him separate from the others at the event. Armoured plates had been placed under the table reserved for the American leader.

Secret service agents respond during the White House Correspondents Dinner. AP

Additionally, Secret Service agents were at their posts in front of the stage and in its wings, as were heavily armed counter-assault agents ready to respond to threats. Security details for dozens of other high-profile attendees were also in the ballroom.

As former Secret Service agent Barry Donadio told the BBC, there appeared to have been “no lack of agents, officers and police” at the event. “They probably had more than enough, and they certainly did because they stopped him,” he told the British news outlet.

Security officials react as a shooter opens fire during the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, DC. Reuters

What happened after shots rang out at the dinner?

As loud sounds emerged — Trump later stated that he first thought it was “a tray going down” — shouts emerged of ‘get down, get down’.

Secret Service agents quickly rushed Trump and Vance off the long head table. Others clambered through the packed ballroom, standing on chairs and overturning tableware to reach protectees. Security personnel also began slamming the doors to Washington’s largest ballroom.

Eventually, all attendees were ushered out to safety, and no one, except for one Secret Service agent, was injured.

Notably, this is the third time since 2024 that the US president has come under threat by an attacker in his immediate vicinity, including the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, that injured him and killed a local firefighter. But Trump seemed unfazed, telling reporters that he plans to reschedule the gala.

With inputs from agencies