The US president said the shooter was apprehended and praised the Secret Service for acting “quickly and bravely”

US President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and other senior officials were rushed from the room by the security detail after several shots were fired at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

The scramble came after an armed suspect – later identified as 31-year-old California-based teacher Cole Tomas Allen – attempted to break through a Secret Service checkpoint at the Washington Hilton hotel.

The suspect and security exchanged fire, after which he was apprehended. One Secret Service agent was hit by a bullet, but avoided major injury due to his ballistic vest, according to media reports.

READ MORE: Most left-leaning Americans think assassinating Trump ‘justified’ – poll

The motives of the suspect are so far unclear, though CBS News reported that Allen told law enforcement that he wanted to attack Trump officials.

Trump praised the Secret Service for doing a “fantastic job,” adding that “they acted quickly and bravely” and all officials were safe. He also described the presidency as a “dangerous profession,” saying “no country is immune” to political violence.