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The sudden eruption of gunfire outside the main ballroom forced an immediate and dramatic evacuation of the President, the First Lady, and a significant number of top-tier lawmakers and administration officials, including White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. The incident occurred as the gala was just beginning to toast the Washington press corps, turning the star-studded “nerd prom” into a scene of panic and confusion. According to police reports and photographic evidence released shortly after the incident, Allen was apprehended in the hotel lobby, shirtless and pinned to the floor by Secret Service agents. He was reportedly armed with a shotgun and multiple knives, having charged toward a security checkpoint in a direct attempt to reach the President’s location.
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