Erika Kirk sobbed ‘I just want to go home’ as she was rushed to safety after a gunman opened fire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
The widow of Charlie Kirk was among the first to be evacuated from the Washington Hilton on Saturday night, not long after President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were bundled out.
The head of Turning Point USA was seen in floods of tears as she was escorted out flanked by what appeared to be two Secret Service agents.
In a post shared to X, Turning Point Action sponsor Derek Myers wrote: ‘Erika is okay but very upset. She was crying.’
It comes just seven months after her husband’s violent death at the hands of an assassin’s bullet at Utah Valley University.
The events bear haunting echoes of the fateful day in September last year, although no fatalities have been reported out of DC.
A source told the Daily Mail that Cole Tomas Allen, 31, an educator from the Los Angeles area, is the alleged shooter who opened fire after breaching a security checkpoint.
In a post on Truth Social, President Trump confirmed that a Secret Service agent wearing a protective vest was shot and that the suspect had been apprehended. He has been charged with firearms and assault charges.
Erika Kirk sobbed as she was evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting
The widow was heard wailing ‘I just want to go home’ as she was escorted out
Trump is escorted out as a shooter opens fire during the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington
Kirk was among the first to be evacuated, not long after President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump
A source told the Daily Mail that Cole Tomas Allen, 31, an educator from the Los Angeles area, is the alleged shooter
Police revealed the suspect had a number of weapons on him including a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives.
Trump shared a stunning image shortly afterward showing the suspect shirtless and lying face down on the ground, describing him as a ‘sick person – a very sick person’ during a press conference.
‘He’s a lone wolf, a wack job. These are crazy people. Sick, sick people,’ he said.
Video shows the suspect as a blur making a run for it as he breached a security checkpoint and attempted to reach the doors to the ballroom.
Wolf Blitzer, who was inside the venue and just feet away from the shooter, told CNN the suspect was armed with a ‘major weapon’ and fired around six shots.
‘Apparently they got the gunman, he had a major weapon there, it was so worrisome. The noise was so loud. I was a few feet away from the gunman who was shooting randomly, half a dozen shots they were so loud,’ Blitzer said.
He continued: ‘Next thing I knew couple of police officers were jumping on me trying to protect me. I think then the gunman was shot, I could be wrong, but he stopped firing.’
‘I don’t know how an individual could get that close to the ballroom with a weapon like that – he clearly had a weapon he was clearly firing I don’t know if he was aiming at anyone. I was a few feet away from that but it was very, very frightening.’
Guests take cover behind a table after Trump and the first lady were evacuated
Secret Service agent points his weapon in the Washington Hilton ballroom
President Trump confirmed that the suspect had been apprehended by Secret Service
Trump shared a Truth Social image showing the suspect shirtless and lying face down on the ground
Images revealed guests taking cover flat on their backs and behind tables together
The suspect’s identity has not yet been officially released, and authorities have not confirmed a motive. It also remains unclear how the individual was able to breach security perimeters and get so close to the ballroom entrance.
The president was attending the event for the first time since 2011 and was set to be honored and give a speech.
DC’s biggest night of the year was thrown into chaos after around six shots were reported in the Washington Hilton lobby at about 8:15pm, where Trump was attending for the first time since 2011 and was set to be honored and speak.
As guests ducked under tables by the hundreds, Secret Service agents and other authorities swarmed the banquet hall, with one person heard shouting, ‘Out of the way, sir.’
Cabinet members were lifted in the air over a barricade and dragged to safety.
One agent was shot but was wearing a protective vest. They were rushed to the hospital and remain in unknown condition.
In a statement to the Daily Mail, a White House spokesperson said: ‘The US Secret Service, in coordination with the Metropolitan Police Department, is investigating a shooting incident near the main magnetometer screening area at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.’
‘One individual is in custody. The condition of those involved is not yet known, and law enforcement is actively assessing the situation,’ the statement added.
Video showed the suspect as a blur making a run for it as he breached a security checkpoint and tried to reach the doors to the ballroom
Security officials evacuate US Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife, Cheryl Hines, as a shooter opens fire
FBI Director Kash Patel on phone after top US leaders were rushed to safety
Broken glass is seen on the floor as law enforcement respond to an incident at the White House Correspondents Dinner
Members of the National Guard respond during an incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner
The president took to social media to share an update immediately after he was made safe.
‘Quite an evening in DC Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely,’ the president wrote to Truth Social.
‘The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we “LET THE SHOW GO ON” but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly,’ he added.
‘Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we’ll just, plain, have to do it again.’
However, the presidential couple has since departed the event with Trump expected to five a press briefing at the White House later on Saturday night.
