White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting updates: Trump and administration officials were likely targets

President Trump and administration officials were the likely targets of a suspect who opened fire at the White House correspondents’ dinner on Saturday night, according to the acting Attorney General.

The dinner was thrown into chaos at around 8:35 p.m. ET when gunshots were fired at the Washington Hilton dinner. Trump and other members of his Cabinet were rushed to safety.

The suspect, said to have been carrying a shotgun and handgun, has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California.

"It does appear that he, he did, in fact, set out to target folks that work in the administration, likely including the president," Todd Blanche told NBC News' "Meet the Press".

The suspect is understood to have been a guest at the hotel where the event was being held and faces charges, including assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon. Blanche said additional charges will be filed.

Trump posted pictures on his Truth Social platform of the alleged assailant handcuffed on the ground following his detention.

He praised the Secret Service and said the gunman was not close to breaching the ballroom where he sat on stage at the time of the incident. One officer, who was shot but protected by his bulletproof vest, was taken to hospital.

“My impression is he was a lone wolf whack job. These are crazy people,” Trump said.

“I saw a room that was just totally unified. It was, in one way, very beautiful, a very beautiful thing.

“To see a man charge a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of secret service, and they acted very quickly.”

Read the latest updates below: