WASHINGTON — A 31-year-old man identified as Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, allegedly attempted to storm the ballroom of the Washington Hilton Hotel during the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday night, firing at least one shot before being subdued. The episode forced the evacuation of President Donald Trump and other top administration officials, though the gunman never entered the ballroom or got close to the president.

"The gunman was likely seeking to target the president and members of the administration," Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said.

Video posted by Trump shows the suspect sprinting through the security checkpoint leading to the ballroom, with officers and agents pivoting and pointing guns at the man as he ran away. The assailant was quickly subdued and was not injured. An officer was shot in a bullet-resistant vest but was not seriously hurt.

The main security checkpoint for the dinner had been placed near the ballroom rather than in the hotel lobby or entrance to avoid disrupting guests and hotel operations. Inside the ballroom during the dinner, additional agents and heavily armed tactical officers were stationed close to the president.

Allen traveled by train from California to Chicago and then to Washington, where he checked in as a guest at the Washington Hilton. Minutes before the shooting, he sent writings to family members referring to himself as a "Friendly Federal Assassin." The writings criticized Trump administration policies.

Blanche said Allen had checked into the hotel as a registered guest before the incident. Federal charges are expected in connection with the shooting, according to officials briefed on the matter.