Eyewitness Details White House Event Shooting Incident

WASHINGTON: (Web Desk) – An eyewitness has described chaotic moments during a reported shooting incident at a hotel hosting a White House Correspondents’ Dinner-related event in Washington, according to international media reports.

Volunteer Helen Mebes said the suspect, identified as Cole Thomas Allen, allegedly assembled a long firearm inside an unsecured room of the hotel before opening fire. She noted that the area near the entrance, where bar carts were stored, was not under surveillance at the time.

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According to her account, the suspect retrieved parts of the weapon from his bag, assembled it, and began firing before moving toward the ballroom area via stairs. He was later detained by U.S. Secret Service personnel.

Mebes described the weapon as unusually long and said multiple shots were fired in different directions, creating panic among guests. She added that she heard at least 10 gunshots as attendees rushed to escape the scene.

Authorities confirmed that there were no fatalities due to the swift response of security personnel. Early reports also suggest the suspect had traveled from the U.S. West Coast and was staying at the same hotel, raising concerns about possible pre-planning.