WASHINGTON — An Iowa State University student attending the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was forced to take cover Saturday night after gunfire erupted near the ballroom of the Washington Hilton, sending hundreds of guests scrambling and prompting the evacuation of President Donald Trump and other top officials.

The student, junior Erik Anderson, is double-majoring in journalism and mass communication and psychology and is the opinion editor for the Iowa State Daily.

Anderson attended the event after receiving the Hugh S. Sidey Scholarship in Journalism. The scholarship included an invitation to the dinner and a networking opportunity with journalists in Washington.

Anderson did not hear gunshots but remembers shouts and screams from attendees as a salad appetizer with cucumbers and mozzarella was being cleared.

Before entering the ballroom, Anderson was talking with a group of about 30 fellow scholars. Once inside, he spoke with U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CEO of Turning Point USA Erika Kirk.

Kirk, along with Vice President JD Vance, are scheduled to visit Ames 5:30 p.m. CDT Thursday. A location has not been announced for the event.

National Public Radio (NPR) reported shots were fired shortly after 7:30 p.m. CDT and that the president, vice president and other Cabinet members were safely escorted out of the ballroom.

Anderson also said he was slow to get down and was pulled to the floor by multimedia journalist Luisa Clausen.

“We all kind of dropped down to the ground,” Anderson said. “There was a girl sitting next to me, and she kind of pulled me down.”

The shooter never made it into the ballroom, as security camera footage shows that the shooter was sprinting through the lobby and being chased by law enforcement.

The suspect, believed to be a 31-year-old California teacher, Cole Allen, was a hotel guest, according to law enforcement. Allen is being charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon. NPR also says that more charges are likely.

Jeddery Carool of DC’s Metropolitan Police told NPR that the suspect [Allen] “was armed with a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives.”

Allen was brought to a local hospital and was not hit by gunfire, according to law enforcement.

The president and the Secret Service later revealed that an agent had been shot in a bulletproof vest at a security screening area near the entrance to the venue, but is “doing great.”

Attendees were initially told the event would continue shortly, but about 30 minutes later, an announcement was made that it had been canceled.