Witness Recalls Takedown of Gunman After White House Correspondents’ Dinner
An Air Force veteran attending the event as a guest described the scene as reminiscent of war after a gunman was apprehended at the Washington Hilton
Erin Thielman, an Air Force veteran who attended the White House Correspondents’ Dinner as a guest of the Wall Street Journal, provided a firsthand account of the moment gunman Cole Allen was apprehended. Thielman described the chaotic scene following the event, noting that her military background made the experience feel familiar. "I'm a veteran. I've seen war, and it was reminiscent," she said of the incident that occurred at the Washington Hilton, where the high-profile dinner is traditionally held.[1][2]
The suspect, identified by authorities as Cole Allen, was reportedly staying at the same hotel where the dinner was hosted. According to officials, Allen had checked into the Washington Hilton on Friday, the day preceding the event. The shooting took place after the conclusion of the dinner, which serves as a major annual gathering for journalists and political figures in the nation's capital. Security officials and witnesses described the immediate response to the gunman as he was taken down following the shooting, an event that disrupted the post-dinner atmosphere at the historic venue.[1][2]
