Carlos Alsina spoke with José Díaz-Balart, NBC and Telemundo presenter, who was in the room where the traditional correspondents’ dinner was being held when the shots were fired between the security forces of the president of the United States and Cole Allen, a 31-year-old Californian man who tried to access the event with the intention of attacking the leadership of the Government.
The event took place at the Hilton hotel, the same one where Ronald Reagan suffered an assassination attempt in 1981. It is an event that has been held since 1914 and to which Díaz-Balart has been attending for 15 years. On this occasion, however, he detected some details that seemed strange to him.
According to him, access was not as strict as on other occasions: “There were people from the organization asking for the ticket, but everything was very confusing due to the rain and wind.” He has even explained how one of his companions entered showing only an envelope. Additionally, the metal detectors were not managed directly by the Secret Service, as was normally the case, although security agents were present.
From the hall to the living room – located in the basement – you have to descend three floors, and Allen managed to reach the first of those levels. The fact that he was staying at the hotel made it easier to access.
At that moment, attendees heard the shots “very clearly.” “There were five detonations. I immediately knew they were bullets,” explained Díaz-Balart, who was a correspondent in El Salvador during the country’s civil war and recognizes that sound. After the shots, there was immediate movement in the room: “We thought someone was going to come in through the door.”
There were five detonations. I immediately knew they were bullets
The journalist has highlighted the seriousness of the situation, since several senior officials in the presidential line of succession were present at the event. “The strange thing about this event is that all the officers are scattered at different tables,” he noted.
Regarding his reaction, he explained that he chose to stay attentive to what was happening: “I didn’t go under the table. I asked the rest to do it, but I stayed with my head down to observe the room; my reaction is to always see what is happening.”
The president of the House of Representatives was quickly evacuated, but, according to Díaz-Balart, at no time was a clear message conveyed that the situation was under control. Although initially it was planned to continue with the event—”the president wants to continue with the event”—finally the security team decided to cancel it. The president is scheduled to appear later at the White House to report what happened.
