Obama Denounces White House Correspondents' Dinner Shooting; Suspect Identified

Former US president Barack Obama on Sunday denounced the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, stressing that violence has no place in a democratic society and praising the response of security personnel. In a post on X, Obama said, "Although we don't yet have the details about the motives behind last night's shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner, it's incumbent upon all us to reject the idea that violence has any place in our democracy." He added, "It's also a sobering reminder of the courage and sacrifice that US Secret Service Agents show every day. I'm grateful to them - and thankful that the agent who was shot is going to be okay." The incident took place on Sunday during the annual event attended by US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other senior officials. A man armed with guns and knives stormed the lobby outside the venue on Saturday night, charging towards the ballroom in a chaotic encounter with Secret Service agents as guests dived under tables at the sound of gunfire. The shooting unfolded just outside the large subterranean ballroom hosting thousands of attendees, disrupting the event minutes after it began, AP reported. Trump was uninjured and was rushed off the stage. The suspect, who officials said was a guest at the Washington Hilton, was taken into custody and is expected in court on Monday. Police believe he acted alone but have not identified a motive or intended target. "When you're impactful, they go after you. When you're not impactful, they leave you alone," Trump said later at the White House, adding that authorities believed the assailant was a "lone wolf". He also said he hoped the event would be rescheduled within 30 days, even as the breach raised questions about security arrangements. Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Correspondents' Association, described the episode as a "harrowing moment" and praised the swift response of the US Secret Service and law enforcement personnel. According to acting US attorney general Todd Blanche, the suspect fired "a couple shots" before being subdued, adding that he "barely got past the perimeter". Officials said a Secret Service officer was struck in a bullet-resistant vest and is recovering. The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, was not injured but was taken to hospital for evaluation. He faces two firearm-related charges, including assaulting an officer with a deadly weapon.