Sitting at his table inside the lavish room as the dramatic events unfolded was the Guardian’s Washington DC bureau chief David Smith. He spoke to Nour Haydar about what is known about the alleged gunman’s motivations, the panic inside the room when the shots were fired and what questions are being asked about the event’s security protocols.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the suspect traveled to the gala in Washington from Los Angeles.

Multiple media outlets are reporting that Cole Tomas Allen is in custody for the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.