Zachary Levi talks 'commotion' at White House Correspondents' dinner as shots fired

Ralphie Aversa, USA TODAY Sun, April 26, 2026 at 2:38 AM UTC

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Actor Zachary Levi was among the guests at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on April 25 when shots broke out in the Washington Hilton hotel.

"We were sitting at the table, and there was some loud banging that definitely caught my attention," he said. "In the back of my head I kind of jokingly thought that kind of sounds like gun shots."

"The next thing we saw, everybody started to turn and drop, there was commotion," he added. Guests hid under tables as the Secret Service raced in to secure the safety of "anyone of import," Levi said, including any legislators and cabinet members. "Then things seemed to calm down."

Security officials evacuate U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) as a possible shooter opens fire during the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026.

When early word came that the dinner would continue, Levi seemed incredulous. "If it was an actually active live shooting I don't know why we'd be continuing with dinner."

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Levi was a guest of USA TODAY at the dinner, and was seated with Speaker Mike Johnson and his wife, who were removed safely from the room.

1 / 0Trump officials evacuate White House press dinner amid reported shooting

Security officials evacuate U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) as a possible shooter opened fire during the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026. President Donald Trump, who was in attendance, said a shooter was apprehended in a social media post.Trump and first lady Melania Trump were evacuated out of the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner minutes after it began, as attendees took cover on the floor.

The dinner portion of the event had just begun, with workers trying to navigate the crowded room to clear the salad plates from the first course.

Secret Service later announced in a post on X that all of their protectees, including President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, were safe.

One individual is in custody, and the Secret Service is investigating the incident, which took place near the main magnetometer screening area at the dinner.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Zachary Levi at White House Correspondents' dinner when shots rang out

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