US president Donald Trump has been rushed to safety with wife Melania after shots were fired at an exclusive dinner in Washington DC, hitting one law enforcement officer.
President Donald Trump and other top officials including Vice president JD Vance were attending the White House correspondents' dinner.
One law-enforcement official confirmed a shooter opened fire at the event at the banquet hall at the Washington Hilton hotel.
LIVE UPDATES: 'Sick person': Trump says officer shot after dinner chaos
READ MORE: What we know about the gunman accused of shooting at Donald Trump
President Donald Trump was uninjured and other top leaders of the United States were evacuated.
Trump says he heard a noise which he thought was a dinner or drinks tray being dropped, but then realised was a gunshot.
He claimed a man "charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons."
"It's always shocking when something like this happens, it's happened to me a little bit and that never changes," he said at a press conference.
"I heard a noise, and I thought it was a tray, a tray going down, it was a pretty loud noise it was from quite far away, he hadn't breached the area at all…but it was a gun.
"I was watching to see what was happening. I probably should have gone down even faster.
"Melania… I think she knew. We were whisked away."
Multiple shots reported by witnesses
Some in the crowd reported hearing what they believed to be five to eight shots fired.
Attendees were waiting for Trump's speech.
The FBI said the shooter is in custody and that its Washington field office is responding to the shooting.
He has been named as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, which is on the edge of Los Angeles in California.
READ MORE: Who was in attendance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner?
Trump said one officer was shot but "saved" by a bulletproof vest.
"I just spoke to the officer, and he's doing great," he said.
Police chief says suspect's motivations unclear
Interim Washington, DC, police chief Jeffery W. Carroll said the suspect was armed with a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives.
He said investigators had no reason to believe at this time that anyone else was involved.
Carroll, said that he could not say at this point what the shooter's motivation was, and that it is too soon to know who the suspect had intended to target in the shooting.
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the suspect is being charged preliminarily with two charges related to using a firearm and assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon, but that there will be many more charges filed "based on the information that we are learning in this very fluid situation."
Pirro said the suspect would be arraigned on Monday in federal district court.
Police said they're examining the scene and speaking to witnesses.
READ MORE: Man in custody after shot fired at Trump dinner
Attendees were eating a spring pea and burrata salad, and waiters had begun preparing to bring out the next course when a security detail appeared on the ballroom floor and yelled for everyone to get down.
Journalists in gowns and tuxedos ducked near tables as wine splattered onto white tablecloths and glasses clinked in the hurry to seek safety.
Armed security burst through the doors of the ballroom and raced toward the dais where Trump sat as attendees ducked or crouched under tables.
The banquet hall was immediately evacuated.
Members of the National Guard took up position inside the building as people were allowed to leave but not reenter.
Security outside was also extremely tight.
Trump said that a "shooter has been apprehended" in a post to Truth Social about 30 minutes later.
The hotel commonly stays open to public while the event is held.
The glamourous annual event sees journalists and political staff as well as some celebrities mingle while raising money for charity.
EXPLAINED: What we know about the gunman accused of shooting at Donald Trump
WHO'S WHO: Who was in attendance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner?
WHAT WE KNOW: Man in custody after shot fired at Trump dinner
WATCH HERE: CCTV of the moment alleged gunman bursts into hotel