Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Footage circulating from Saturday night shows businesswoman Erika Kirk leaving the correspondents' dinner in tears.

In September 2025, Kirk's husband - right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk - was shot and killed while speaking at an event in Utah.

"I just want to go home," she can be heard saying while being escorted out of the hotel on Saturday, in a video shared by CNN journalist Sara Sidner.

Fox News anchor Bret Baier told the news channel that Kirk was under a table near him and "really shaken up" by the shooting.

Kirk was pictured attending a Fox News VIP reception before the dinner alongside presenter Lawrence Jones.

Retired FBI special agent Daniel Brunner tells BBC News the actions of the Secret Service following the shooting should be viewed as a "security success" and that agents conducted a "very safe event".

"[The] individual was taken into custody without having been shot, he was tackled by other agents, he still had two flights down to go to the main ballroom and still sealed doors... he was not anywhere the ballroom when the shots were fired," he says.

The suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, reportedly had a room at the Washington Hilton hotel, and Brunner says the FBI investigation will look into how he got "from his hotel room to that area without being detected if he was carrying a shotgun or other types of weapons".

There are a "large amount of people who come in and out of that hotel at all times", he says, adding: "You can't search every one of those person's suitcases."

"If this individual had broken down his weapons and packed them into a suitcase, he would look just like any other person checking into the hotel."

Image source, Anadolu via Getty Images

There are a few details we know about Cole Tomas Allen, the suspect of the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting.

We know he's 31, from Torrance in California, and that he is said to have worked for a tutoring company for college age students.

He describes himself as a mechanical engineer, game developer and teacher, who studied mechanical engineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and took part in its Christian fellowship.

Our colleagues at the Today programme have been speaking to Connor Sheets, a journalist at the Los Angeles Times who has been talking to those who know Allen.

Sheets tells the BBC that according to those he's spoken to, Allen was "pretty involved" in his local church and took his faith "very seriously".

Those who knew him through his tutoring described him as "very peaceful", "quiet" and "highly intelligent", Sheets says.

During an interview with Fox News on Sunday, US President Donald Trump said the suspect left a "manifesto" and suggested he was "strongly anti-Christian".

Image source, Getty Images

Several BBC reporters were at the correspondents' dinner on Saturday night and have been telling us what they heard and saw.

Chief North America correspondent Gary O'Donoghue described a "low booming noise", while Washington correspondent Daniel Bush said there was "widespread confusion" as attendees hid under tables.

This morning, we've also heard from former BBC journalist Mishal Husain, who tells Radio 4's Today programme that while a "hard copy of your invitation" was needed to get into the building, it wasn't until she entered the ballroom that she saw "metal detectors and airport-style security".

She says attendees had already been in the building for several hours by that point, attending receptions and having a few drinks, and that she thinks these security measures should have been in place at the building's perimeter.

The room itself was tightly packed, with Secret Service agents having to "jump from one chair to another" to navigate it, Husain adds.

Image source, Reuters

A former US Secret Service agent says he thinks the security service did a good job in protecting President Trump on Saturday night.

Jeffrey James tells BBC's Today Programme there was a "great response, great communication" from security agents, as the suspect was stopped at an "outer perimeter checkpoint".

When asked about what looks like a pause before Trump exits the room, James describes this as a "tactical pause".

"You don't want to be in such a hurry to rush out of one situation that you run into a worse situation," James tells the BBC. (Trump partly addressed this earlier.)

He is then asked how it's possible for someone to be in the hotel with so many guns while the president is there. The suspect was reportedly staying at the Washington Hilton.

James explains that they can't "shut down business", and it was a large, functioning hotel.

"We can't go from room to room and search every room because the president is going to be there."

Image source, PA Media

There is a "long list of problems" between the US and the UK, says chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee Labour MP Emily Thornberry, who says she is "anxious" about King Charles' state visit, which begins today.

After what appears to have been the third assassination attempt on the US president at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday, Buckingham Palace said the King's visit would "proceed as planned", with some adjustments.

But even before the weekend, there had been concerns about the diplomatic challenges posed by the visit - with Donald Trump's relationship with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer seemingly worsening in recent months.

Thornberry tells BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It is a really high wire act and the president [Trump] is so unpredictable... there are a number of things we're at loggerheads on" - including, she says, the war in Iran.

She adds: "If anybody can pull it off it is the King. He is very experienced at this and I know that he's up for the challenge."

Image source, Getty Images

Buckingham Palace says King Charles III's state visit to the US - which begins later today - will "proceed as planned", with some minor adjustments.

The decision was taken after discussions were held on both sides of the Atlantic and advice taken from the government, according to a statement on Sunday.

The palace said the King was "greatly relieved" to hear the US president, Melania Trump and other guests had been unharmed.

King Charles is expected to address both houses of Congress, visit the 9/11 memorial in New York and attend a wreath laying to honour fallen US and UK soldiers in Virginia. It is not yet clear what adjustments have been made to the trip.

The state visit has already proven diplomatically challenging for those planning it. It is due to take place days after reports emerged that the US could review its position on UK sovereignty over the Falklands Islands.

Image source, Getty Images

The suspect of the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting was named by officials as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance in the Los Angeles region, California.

After he was detained by security agents inside the Washington Hilton hotel he told law enforcement officials he wanted to shoot officials in the Trump administration, two sources told CBS, the BBC's US news partner.

On Sunday, Trump told Fox News that the suspect "had a lot of hatred in his heart for a while", and said his family knew he had "difficulties". He added that the suspect had a "manifesto", and suggested he was "strongly anti-Christian".

The BBC's partner CBS News has seen a written document believed to be linked to the suspect, saying he wanted to target members of the Trump administration "from highest-ranking to lowest".

BBC Verify has been looking into Allen's online presence.

Voter registration records appear to show he had registered no party preference, though records suggest in October 2024 he donated $25 (£18.50) to a fundraising platform with money earmarked for Kamala Harris' presidential campaign.

On LinkedIn, Allen describes himself as a mechanical engineer, game developer and teacher, who studied mechanical engineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and took part in its Christian fellowship.

In December 2024 he was named teacher of the month by a tutoring company for college age students, and he graduated with a master's in computer science in 2025 from California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Image source, US President Trump via Truth Social/ Getty Images

The suspect of a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington DC on Saturday night is due to appear in court today.

The suspect has been named by US media as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, from Torrance, California.

US Attorney General Todd Blanche said "preliminary" findings suggest the suspect was targeting members of the Trump administration - and that Trump himself was a "likely" target.

Less than an hour after the incident, Trump said in a post on Truth Social, "the shooter has been apprehended", and later posted the above photo.

Law enforcement told the BBC's US partner CBS News yesterday that the suspect was being held at a Metropolitan Police Department station in north-west Washington DC, and would be transported later today to a detention facility in the south-east of the capital.

He is expected to be formally charged today with assault of a federal officer and using a firearm during a crime of violence. Further federal indictments will be coming later, Blanche said.

Image source, Reuters

The shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner is seemingly the third assassination attempt Donald Trump has faced, following incidents in Butler, Pennsylvania in July 2024, and at his golf club in Florida in September that year.

But in an interview with 60 Minutes yesterday, Trump said: "I wasn't worried. I understand life. We live in a crazy world."

Asked about the order of events - in which JD Vance was rushed from the room first - Trump said he "wasn't making it easy" for Secret Service agents to evacuate him from the room.

"I wanted to see what was happening... I wanted to see what was going on. And by that time we started to realise, maybe it was a bad problem."

Asked about "going down" as he was led from the room, Trump replied: "I started walking with them [the security team]. I turned, I started walking, and they said, 'Please go down. Please go down on the floor.'

"So I went down and the first lady went down also."

The BBC's partner CBS News has seen a written document believed to be linked to the suspect, Cole Allen, saying he wanted to target members of the Trump administration "from highest-ranking to lowest".

During the 60 Minutes interview, Trump grew frustrated with journalist Norah O'Donnell after she asked about the reported contents of the writings, which include a reference to a "pedophile, rapist, and traitor".

He called O'Donnell a "disgrace" for asking him about the excerpts, adding that "you should be ashamed of yourself reading that, because I'm not any of those things".

Welcome back to our live coverage, after a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington DC on Saturday night.

Donald Trump has told CBS News he was "not worried" during the shooting - although authorities believe the president and other senior government figures were targets.

"I wasn't worried. I understand life. We live in a crazy world," Trump said. Watch a clip of the interview above.

At 20.35 ET (01:35 BST), a suspected gunman ran into the foyer at the Washington Hilton hotel. Shots were heard, prompting Secret Service agents to rush Donald Trump and members of his cabinet out of the room.

One Secret Service officer was hit but is expected to make a full recovery.

Suspect Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California is expected to be formally charged in court in Washington today.

All this happens as King Charles III is due to arrive in Washington at 15.00 ET (20.00 BST). His state visit will "proceed as planned", Buckingham Palace said, with minor adjustments to some events.

Charlotte Hadfield
Live reporter

US President Donald Trump was a "likely" target of last night's shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, according to the acting US attorney general.

Here's a recap of how the incident unfolded:

At 20.35 ET (01:35 BST), a suspected gunman ran into the foyer at the Washington Hilton hotel, trying to get past security officers and metal detectors.

Shots were heard, prompting Secret Service agents to escort Donald Trump and his cabinet out of the room, as guests ducked for cover.

The BBC's chief North America correspondent, Gary O'Donoghue, said he heard the shattering of glass and "within seconds, we were under the table".

Less than an hour later at 21.17 ET, Trump makes his first comments on Truth Social, saying that the alleged gunman "has been apprehended".

What we know about the suspect

The suspect has been named by US media as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, from Torrance, California. He is expected to be formally charged on Monday.

Police said the motive of the suspect remains unknown.

US Attorney General Todd Blanche said "preliminary" findings suggest the suspected gunman was targeting members of the Trump administration - and that Trump himself was a "likely" target.

We are ending our live coverage, but you can read more in our news story here.

Gunfire was heard, President Trump was ushered away, and a landmark calendar event for White House journalists quickly came to a halt.

We've put together the key clips showing how the situation spiralled at the Washington Hilton hotel during last night's White House Correspondents' Dinner.

The suspected gunman is currently being held at a Metropolitan Police Department station in north-west Washington DC, law enforcement sources tell the BBC's US partner CBS News.

He will be transported later today to a detention facility in the south-east of the capital, they say, before being taken a to federal court on Monday.

Regan Morris
Reporting from Torrance, California

The house where Cole Allen - who has been named by law enforcement officials as the man arrested on Saturday night - lived with his parents has the windows covered on the garage.

Several neighbours point it out, saying they’ve never noticed it before - and they weren’t sure if it’s always been that way.

There’s a foil covering the windows from the inside and black draped fabric on the outside.

“It’s definitely not normal for the neighborhood,” says Vince Terrazzino, who walked past the house with his 10-year-old daughter, Alessandra. "Nothing ever happens here," he says.

FBI detectives have been knocking on neighbours doors here. Alessandra keeps asking them what the latest news is - they decline to answer her or us.

Image source, Reuters

Regan Morris
Reporting from Torrance, California

Image source, Reuters

Cole Allen’s usually quiet neighbourhood is swarming with media talking to neighbours to ask about the Allen family.

Neighbours seem shocked - they think Cole lives in the house with his parents - many wave to him regularly but didn’t know him well.

Several neighbours complain about helicopters flying above their homes late last night, shortly after the shooting at the dinner in Washington.

There are three vehicles outside the home – two cars and a scooter – but no one answered the door when we knocked.

A stack of journalists’ business cards are left on the front porch.

A poster for a judge running for election is on display in the front yard with the tag line “equal justice for all”.

Buckingham Palace has confirmed that King Charles's state visit to the US "will proceed as planned".

In a statement, it says the decision follows "discussions on both sides of the Atlantic through the day".

The palace says that "the King and Queen are most grateful to all those who have worked at pace to ensure this remains the case, and are looking forward to the visit getting under way tomorrow".

The King and Queen are due to travel to the US for a four-day state visit on Monday - their agenda includes a meeting with Donald Trump at the White House.

• Read more: King's US visit will go ahead as planned, Buckingham Palace says

BBC reporters were at the correspondents' dinner when shots were fired last night. Here's a recap of what they saw and heard:

• Chief North America correspondent Gary O'Donoghue heard "the low booming noise" associated with automatic fire. Those on stage at the dinner, including the president and senior officials, were "taken off immediately", he says
• Washington correspondent Daniel Bush described "widespread confusion" as attendees "ducked under tables"
• An agent climbed over several tables to get to FBI Director Kash Patel, says reporter Bernd Debusmann Jr. Presenter Sumi Somaskanda says Patel "quickly covered his girlfriend with his body"
• In a room full of journalists, "everyone... was reporting the news", says reporter Indrani Basu
• State Department correspondent Tom Bateman filmed what was happening and got pulled out of the room when trying to send the video. He heard an agent saying: "This is now a crime scene, you’ve got to get out"
• Once other attendees were ushered out of the room, people were "asking if others [were] okay and giving hugs", says reporter Cai Pigliucci

"Last night's shooting at the Washington Hilton was a harrowing moment for everyone in attendance", the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) says in a statement.

The president of the association, Weijia Jiang, says the actions of Secret Service and law enforcement "protected thousands of guests". She also wishes the injured officer a "full and speedy recovery".

"Our dinner exists to celebrate the First Amendment and the hard daily work of the journalists who defend it. Last night, those journalists showed exactly the kind of calm and courage that work demands," she says.

"We are proud of everyone in that room", she adds.

Image source, Reuters

More now from Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.

Speaking to ABC This Week, he says it appears the Secret Service agent who was shot during the incident was shot by the alleged gunman - and not by friendly fire from other agents.

But he adds that this is not yet confirmed and the details are still being investigated

He has been speaking to a number of US broadcasters today. In an interview with the BBC's US partner CBS News, Blanche says it's understood that no one else was injured apart from the Secret Service agent, who he describes as being "in great spirits".

He says tragedy was avoided "because he was wearing a bulletproof vest".