A man has been heralded as an unsung hero after he jumped in front of President Donald Trump as soon as the alarm was sounded about gunfire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
In dramatic footage that has since gone viral, the man - whose identity is currently unknown - was seen reacting with lightning speed.
As the first pops of gunfire echoed through the subterranean lobby of the Washington Hilton, the man did not duck; instead, he lunged toward Trump, using his own body as a human shield to block the Commander-in-Chief from potential fire.
A grainy but powerful still from the footage showing the man jumping mid-air, covering the President as he is ushered toward the backstage exit.
The suspect, identified by authorities as Cole Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, reportedly charged a security checkpoint armed with a shotgun, a handgun and several knives.
Allen was tackled by agents after a brief but terrifying exchange of gunfire in the hotel lobby.
One Secret Service officer was shot at close range during the melee. In what many are calling a miracle, the bullet was stopped by his ballistic vest.
President Trump later praised the officer's bravery, stating from the White House: 'He was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job.' 'I just spoke to the officer and he's doing great.'
As the first pops of gunfire echoed through the subterranean lobby of the Washington Hilton, the man did not duck; instead, he lunged toward President Trump, using his own body as a human shield to block the Commander-in-Chief from potential fire
Footage shows guests in tuxedos and evening gowns huddled under tables as Secret Service patrol the ballroom floor
The White House Correspondents' Dinner – Washington's most glitzy 'nerd prom' – descended into a scene of blood-curdling chaos last night
The ballroom, filled with the nation's top journalists, Hollywood celebrities, and Cabinet members including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, became a scene of pure pandemonium.
Footage shows guests in tuxedos and evening gowns huddled under tables as Secret Service patrol the ballroom floor.
The incident occurred at the same hotel where President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981 – an eerie historical parallel that was not lost on those in attendance.
Just like Secret Service Agent Tim McCarthy, the agent who took a bullet for Reagan 45 years ago, last night's 'hero agent' is being celebrated across social media for his 'extraordinary courage.'
Trump, still wearing his tuxedo, addressed the nation just two hours later. 'When you're impactful, they go after you,' he said defiantly. 'They seem to think he was a lone wolf. We're not going to let anybody take over our society.'
The White House has confirmed that the dinner will be rescheduled within 30 days, promising an event that is 'bigger and better.'
But for now, Washington remains on high alert as it grapples with yet another attempt on the President's life.
Meantime, the family of the suspect who stormed the White House Correspondents' Dinner has revealed his past radical statements and his plans to 'fix' the world as his manifesto is uncovered.
A grainy but powerful still from the footage showing the man jumping mid-air, covering the President as he is ushered toward the backstage exit
Patel did not take cover under the table like others, remaining upright as he told those at his table to stay down
Cole Tomas Allen, 31, a teacher from Torrance, California, was seen attempting to bolt past a security checkpoint while armed with a shotgun, a handgun and several knives on Saturday night.
He exchanged fire with Secret Service agents before they tackled him to the ground and arrested him. One agent was struck in his bulletproof vest and is expected to recover. No one else was harmed.
Authorities have now discovered that Allen wrote a chilling manifesto before he arrived at the Washington Hilton Hotel, where the dinner was being hosted.
Allen's family members told law enforcement that he had sent them some of his disturbing writings before the attack, which prompted his brother to alert police. The writings did not specifically mention the dinner on Saturday, CBS News reported.
Allen's brother notified the New London Police Department in Connecticut of the manifesto minutes before the attack, a White House official confirmed to CNN.
Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox News that he had heard about the report and wished the department had informed federal authorities earlier.
US Secret Service and Montgomery County Police also interviewed the suspect's sister in Rockville, Maryland, a White House official told CNN.