Phone saves Secret Service agent shot at White House Correspondents’ Dinner
WASHINGTON, DC: Although no guests were harmed during the horrifying White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting, as Secret Service agents successfully took down the gunman and evacuated the attendees, a bullet struck a security personnel member.
During the confrontation between Secret Service agents and the 31-year-old gunman, a bullet hit one of the agents. The man was later pronounced out of danger and released from the hospital.
Secret Service agent saved by phone and bulletproof vest
According to a law enforcement summary, one bullet from the gunman's weapon hit a Secret Service agent but was halted by his bulletproof vest and phone, The Atlantic reported.
The officer was discharged from the hospital early on Sunday, April 26, following the terrifying incident at the Washington Hilton the day before. However, his identity has not been disclosed.
The Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Gugliem said that protective equipment, like a bulletproof vest, possibly helped them "avoid a potential tragedy."
“He was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job,” President Donald Trump told reporters during a press conference on Saturday, adding that he was in "very high spirits."
Cole Tomas Allen, 31, identified as suspected shooter
After the shooting scare rattled the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the gunman was immediately nabbed at the incident site and later identified as a 31-year-old teacher, Cole Tomas Allen.
Allen was reportedly carrying a 12-gauge shotgun, a .38-caliber handgun, and multiple knives. He began working as a tutor at C2 Education in 2020, soon after graduating from Caltech.
Ten minutes before the gunman opened fire at the dinner held at the Washington Hilton, he allegedly sent a manifesto to his family, apparently listing reasons why Trump is a bad president.
Later on Sunday, C2 Education issued a statement condemning the shooting as "horrifying," adding that it is cooperating fully with law enforcement investigating the incident.
White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting
The annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner hosted by White House Correspondents' Association on Saturday was rocked by the sound of gunshots, disrupting the event and sending the gathering into chaos.
The horrifying incident occurred around 8.30 pm, when the suspected gunman, Allen, charged at a security checkpoint and exchanged fire with security personnel, hitting one of the agents with a bullet.
The Washington Hilton was later shut down after Secret Service men evacuated all the guests, suspending the event. However, Trump has promised to organize a “bigger, better, nicer” dinner within 30 days.
The gunman was arrested at the incident site, and further investigation is underway.
