When the White House Correspondents’ Dinner (WHCD) turned into a scene straight out of a thriller, the world’s attention turned to the Washington Hilton ballroom. Among the many witnesses was Shazam star Zachary Levi, who found himself at the center of the commotion. Levi, 45, was seated at a table with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and his wife, Kelly Johnson, when the night took an unexpected turn.
What Zachary Levi Heard and Saw
Levi told USA Today on Saturday, April 25, that a sudden, loud banging had grabbed his attention. “We were sitting at the table and there was some loud banging that definitely caught my attention,” he recounted. “In the back of my head I thought, you know, jokingly thinking, ‘That kind of sounds like gunshots.’ But that wasn’t necessarily confirmed,” he added. He speculated that the noise could have come from the hallway or from tables that were falling and banging down.
Within seconds, the ballroom erupted into panic. Levi described how everyone began to turn and drop to the floor. People hurried under tables, clutching each other, as the Secret Service rushed in to secure the venue. “Everybody started to hide under tables and the Secret Service were pouring in and trying to get to anyone of importance — anyone in the administration, any legislators, including the president,” Levi said. “They were getting them all out of there as quickly as they could.”
The Shooter and the Escalation of Violence
Shortly after the annual celebration of press freedom began, a 31‑year‑old gunman burst through a security checkpoint. Armed with a shotgun, handgun, and multiple knives, he engaged in a firefight with Secret Service agents. The exchange of gunfire caused a chaotic scramble among guests and staff alike.
One Secret Service agent was shot in the chest during the confrontation. Fortunately, the agent’s ballistic vest protected him from serious injury, and he was later released from the hospital. The shooter was appreh
InfluencerBlogger
