Trump rushed off stage as gunman opens fire at gala dinner | ABC NEWS

It was meant to be a gala dinner with the glitzed-up press pack.

On behalf of the White House Correspondents' Association, thank you for being here.

But before the appetisers could be cleared away... Offer, offer! ..the sound of several gunshots sent the president ducking. Get out of the way! Security detail leapt over tables.

Get out of the way! Security detail leapt over tables. Out of the way!

As a swarm of officers surrounded the President and the First Lady, rushing them from the stage. It's pretty scary because...

Stay down, stay down!

Chaos quickly ensued. Journalists flattening themselves against the floor.

Oh, my God!

Everybody stay down, stay down!

Reporters trying to make sense of what had just happened.

Ladies and gentlemen, now we gotta go.

Before the ballroom was evacuated.

SIREN BLARES

Outside the hotel, the streets of DC were packed with police. The press, still in formal wear, called to an emergency media briefing. As the president shared CCTV video, he says shows a man charging through an FBI checkpoint. The suspect identified as 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen.

The man has been captured. They're going to his apartment. I guess he lives in California. And he's a sick person, a very sick person.

We do believe he was a guest here at the hotel. He was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives. Law enforcement exchanged gunfire with the individual. We do know that a US Secret Service Uniformed Division officer was struck in his vest.

The Secret Service is now in charge.

The DC Attorney-General herself was at the event. She says the suspect is expected to face multiple charges.

But make no mistake, there will be many more charges based upon the information that we are learning.

The President, meanwhile, had a rare conciliatory message for those he's branded in the past the fake media.

I also want to thank the press, the media. You've been very responsible in your coverage. I want to thank the First Lady for, that was a rather traumatic experience for her. We wanted to stay tonight, I will tell you, I fought like hell to stay.

Undeterred and defiant, he vowed to return to the stage. John Lyons, ABC News, Washington.

John Lyons was among those who took cover as the shooting unfolded. He gave us his first hand account shortly after leaving the ballroom.

We were seated at table number 244 when the White House Correspondents' Dinner was about to officially begin. Many of the guests heard three or four gunshots from just outside the main ballroom. Suddenly, shouts went up from the Secret Service to get down. Most of the room of 2,500 people hit the floor, including me. The dinner is supposed to be a light-hearted occasion and includes some of America's most powerful people.

Instead it became dangerous and chaotic. Secret Service have been praised for their quick action, but serious questions will be Secret Service have been praised for their quick action, but serious questions will be asked about how this man managed to get into the hotel.