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Journalists inside the Washington Hilton described a scene of sudden terror and confusion as gunshots rang out just after 8:30 p.m. on April 25, 2026. 🎙️ Direct Journalist Accounts Wolf Blitzer (CNN): Was just feet away from the gunman when the shooting began. He described the suspect firing what looked like a "very serious weapon" about six times before police tackled him. Blitzer was ushered by officers into a nearby men's room for safety, where he lost a shoe in the scramble. Bret Baier (Fox News): Reported from the ballroom that while shots were audible, they clearly came from outside the main room. He was eventually held with other guests in the hotel basement for security. Chris Sheridan (Al Jazeera): Recounted hearing about five shots and immediately smelling gunpowder. He and those nearby "immediately dove to the ground" as the sounds came from directly behind the ballroom entrance doors. Times Reporter: Sheltered in a restroom after hearing four to five gunshots. Security personnel informed him the suspect was indeed armed with a firearm. 🏛️ The Scene Inside the Ballroom Sudden Chaos: Guests were eating their first course (spring pea and burrata salad) when the first bangs were heard. Trump later admitted he initially thought a tray had been dropped. "Get Down!": Secret Service agents began shouting "shots fired" and "stay down!" as they swarmed the stage. Agents in tactical gear with rifles appeared on the dais. Immediate Reactions: Many of the 2,600 attendees crawled under their dinner tables for cover. Some guests began chanting "USA!" or "God Bless America," while others used their phones to record the unfolding evacuation. Cabinet members like Marco Rubio and RFK Jr. were physically pushed to the floor by security details before being evacuated one by one. 🔒 Evacuation and Aftermath Evacuation Route: High profile guests were moved to secure holding areas within the hotel or led out through basement service hallways. Visible Distress: Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk, was seen being escorted away in tears by security. Resumption Attempt: WHCA President Weijia Jiang initially announced the program would continue, but security began clearing the room for good around 9:20 p.m. as the hotel was declared a crime scene