What it was like in the room as shots rang out at correspondents' dinner
The BBC's Gary O'Donoghue describes the moment he and others dived for cover as shots rang out at the venue.
Coverage by Political Leaning
See how different sides of the spectrum reported this story
Notable Quotes
"I was hungry and wanted to get on with it."
— RFK Jr , Activist
"he told me he was hungry and wanted to get on with it."
— RFK Jr , Activist
"I fought like hell to stay."
— Donald Trump , Politician
"I thought it was a tray going down."
— Donald Trump , Politician
"A shooter was apprehended in a social media post."
— Donald Trump , Politician
"oh my God"
— Melania Trump , Celebrity
Key People
Boris Epshteyn is a political adviser for Donald Trump.
Actress and wife of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Former president of the United States known for his aggressive economic policies.
JD Vance is a United States Senator from Ohio and a prominent figure in conservative politics.
Jeanine Pirro is the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia.
Karoline Leavitt is the White House press secretary.
The former Chief of Staff for the Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense.
U.S. Secretary of State.
Markwayn is a Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security.
US Homeland Security Secretary under the Trump administration.
First Lady of the United States known for her social initiatives.
Mike Johnson is the Speaker of the House from Louisiana.
Mentalist performing at the dinner.
Pete Hegseth is the United States Secretary of Defense.
RFK Jr is a health activist and member of the Kennedy family.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is an American environmental attorney and activist.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is the Health and Human Services Secretary.
Ronald Reagan was the 40th President of the United States from 1981 to 1989.
Scott Bessent is the Treasury Secretary.
Todd Blanche is the nominee for attorney general and a former personal lawyer to Donald Trump.
Vance is the US vice-president who publicly addressed the issue surrounding Henry Nowak's death.
Weijia Jiang is a senior White House correspondent for CBS News.
Tags
All Coverage
The BBC's Gary O'Donoghue describes the moment he and others dived for cover as shots rang out at the venue.
Gary O'Donoghue, BBC's Chief North America correspondent, recounts the chaotic moments during the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, describing the sounds of gunfire, the rush to take cover, and the subsequent evacuation of attendees.
Rebecca Morin describes the immediate reactions of attendees during the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, including the sounds of gunfire, the rush to take cover, and the evacuation of key figures like President Trump and Vice President Vance.
Maura Judkis recounts the events at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, detailing the moments of confusion and fear as shots were fired near the ballroom, leading to evacuations and a canceled event.
Rachel Treisman provides firsthand accounts from NPR journalists present at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, describing the panic and confusion that ensued after shots were fired at the Washington Hilton.
Victoria Bekiempis details the sequence of events during the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting, describing the immediate reactions of President Trump, attendees, and security personnel as shots were fired near the ballroom.
NPR journalists share their firsthand accounts of the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, detailing the confusion and panic that ensued among attendees.
Antonia Hitchens provides a firsthand account of the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, detailing the initial confusion, the response of Secret Service agents, and the evacuation of President Trump and other officials.
Similar Stories
Related coverage based on topic and tags
BBC breaks down video of the aftermath of New York City ICE shooting
The BBC's Nada Tawfik goes through new dramatic body cam footage that shows the tense moments when police arrive on scene.
October 9, 2026 at 08:20 PMGeorgia officials hunt for suspect in shooting that killed two and injured 35
A homecoming celebration turned into a scene of deadly violence, as dozens of shots were fired into a crowd.
October 5, 2026 at 12:08 PMAlison Hammond: 'I thought I was having heart attack on air'
The host says a health scare on live TV was one of the "scariest things I've ever been through".
October 9, 2026 at 10:52 AMFive shot dead at residence in Georgia's Douglas, police says - Reuters
Five shot dead at residence in Georgia's Douglas, police says Reuters
October 10, 2026 at 11:21 AMSuspect linked to Monaco bomb attack on millionaire breaks silence to BBC
Vitalii Zhykovych gives his own account of the attempted assassination of Ukrainian-born businessman Vadym Yermolayev.
October 8, 2026 at 11:11 PMWatch: At the scene of student protests in Lille
The BBC's Europe correspondent Nick Beake reports from a large demonstration in northern France.
October 6, 2026 at 03:02 PM