“Seen, Heard & Whispered” was among those in the ballroom Saturday, when an armed man attempted an attack on the White House Correspondents Association’s annual dinner — and because of where we sat, it was immediately clear that we’d heard gunshots.
The dinner, also known as “Nerd Prom,” has been held at the Washington Hilton for years, with organizers saying it provides the biggest space possible for the event.
Now that’s all under scrutiny.
The ballroom, located in the hotel’s lowest level, is a large oval with an elevated stage along one of the longer curves. The main floor is sunken by several steps, and there are several entrances to the room.
“Seen, Heard & Whispered”’s table was near the perimeter on the opposite side of the stage — which put us near one of those doors and left no mistake about the sound of the gunshots in a hallway outside.
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We fled into a kitchen near the table and hid in a cleaning closet, along with a handful of other attendees and some of the kitchen staff.
But others who were in the ballroom had no idea what was going on. Being deeper into the room amid the din of conversation, they couldn’t hear the shots.
The suspected gunman — Cole Thomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California — has been charged with attempting to assassinate the president.
Video shows a man trying to rush past the security checkpoint where partygoers are screened for weapons before being allowed into the ballroom. Officers captured Mr. Allen before he reached the ballroom.
During the correspondents’ dinner, the Hilton continues to operate normally. Indeed, Mr. Allen was a guest at the hotel, which is how he was able to access the outer ring of security checks, where party guests were asked to show invitations.
Another issue is that many news organizations host receptions in meeting rooms before the dinner, and those who aren’t attending the dinner can get into the hotel for those parties.
“It’s just too much to control,” one guest told “Seen, Heard & Whispered.”
