The shooting occurred at a Washington, D.C. hotel where an annual correspondents' dinner was being held on Saturday night, local time. Several members of the administration, including Donald Trump, were attending the dinner when shots were heard from another part of the building.
Among others, Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance were evacuated after the shooting, without being injured.
Surveillance footage released after the incident shows a man running towards a security checkpoint in the building, while passing several people.
One security officer was shot during the incident, but was hit in his bulletproof vest and is "expected to be okay," according to police.
“Very powerful weapon”
"He was shot at very close range with a very powerful weapon, and the body armor did its job," Trump said at a press conference afterward.
The suspected perpetrator has been arrested. According to the AP, he is 31 years old and a resident of California.
Police say all those who attended the dinner are safe. Several high-ranking politicians, government officials and international journalists attended the event.
"We are here at the scene and are sitting at the table closest to the doors. We heard clear gunshots and everyone around us threw themselves under the tables," SVT's US correspondent Sofia Yohannes told the channel shortly after the incident.
Had just received the appetizers
The president of the Correspondents' Association, which is behind the event, says everyone is safe. The dinner is held annually, but Trump has not participated before as president. Shots were heard shortly after the opening speech.
"Donald Trump had just entered the hall, the program had just started, we had received the appetizers and just then I heard at least four loud gunshots," Sveriges Radio's Washington correspondent Ginna Lindberg told SR Ekot .
We completely threw ourselves under the tables, there was panic in the room. I flew down with the others.
The event will be held at a later date.
