More and more details are emerging about the shooting during the Washington Correspondents' Dinner, which was attended by President Donald Trump and representatives of the American political elite.
According to the latest data, the attacker is a 31-year-old man from California, identified by investigators as acting alone (a "lone wolf"). He was accommodated in the hotel where the event was held and managed to reach close to the security zone before opening fire. According to unconfirmed information, he is a teacher and video game designer, summarized news.bg.
According to the information of the investigators, the man was heavily armed - with a rifle, a pistol and knives. He attempted to pass through the checkpoint to the main hall, where over 2,000 guests were present, including members of the government.
During the incident, shots were fired at a Secret Service employee, who was hit but survived thanks to his bulletproof vest. The attacker was neutralized and detained on the spot, and all high-ranking officials, including the president and the first lady, were immediately evacuated.
The investigation is being conducted by federal agencies, including the FBI, and a clear motive for the attack has not yet been established. It is being checked whether it was an isolated act or a broader context.
The incident raises serious security questions. According to eyewitnesses and media reports, the attacker managed to assemble a weapon in a poorly controlled area of the hotel before heading to the hall, which raises suspicions of security lapses.
The shooting itself took place near the initial control (scanning) area, which means that the attack was carried out at the border between the outer and inner security perimeters - the most critical point at such events.
Witnesses describe scenes of panic - people were hiding under tables, and security acted within seconds, knocking attendees to the ground and removing key figures from the hall.
The incident has already sparked calls for a complete overhaul of security protocols at events involving high-ranking government officials, with analysts warning that such a A breach in control, albeit unsuccessful, shows a growing risk in the context of political polarization in the United States.
We recall that in July 2024, Trump was wounded in the ear during a shooting during an election rally - an attack that shocked American society and led to increased security measures around the candidate at the time. The attacker was neutralized by the services, but the incident showed the vulnerability even at mass events with a high level of security.
A second potential attack attempt was later prevented after an armed man was detained near a golf course where Trump was. According to investigators, the suspect intended to carry out an attack, but was arrested before he could carry out the plan.
The cases inevitably bring attention back to the most famous assassinations of American presidents. In 1981, Ronald Reagan was shot in Washington and seriously injured, but survived after emergency surgery. Even more dramatic is the case of 1963, when John F. Kennedy was assassinated in an assassination attempt in Dallas - an event that left a deep mark on American history and public consciousness.