White House correspondents dinner: Follow live updates...

By Jim Puzzanghera, Globe Staff Representative Jaimie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat, was posing for a photo with his longtime friend, Kerry Kennedy, the daughter of slain Senator Robert F. Kennedy at 8:34 p.m. when there was a commotion in the ballroom and people hit the floor.Secret Service members rushed into the ballroom, running on the table tops to get to the head table where Trump was located. Raskin laid on top of Kennedy to protect her. By the Associated Press Generally, the Hilton hotel, where the dinner has taken place for years, remains open to regular guests during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, and security has typically been focused on the ballroom and rather than the hotel at large, with little screening for people not entering the dinner itself. In past years, that has created openings for disruptions in the lobby and other public spaces, including protests in which security moved to remove guests who unfurled banners or staged demonstrations. By the Associated Press The banquet hall — where hundreds of prominent journalists, celebrities and national leaders were awaiting Trump’s speech — was immediately evacuated. Members of the National Guard took up position inside the building as people were allowed to leave but not re-enter. Security outside was also extremely tight. It was not immediately clear what happened. A law enforcement official confirmed there was a shooter but no further details were immediately available. By the Associated Press U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro posted a short video from the hotel after the incident, saying, “I have been taken out of the ballroom after the sound of the shots fired. The Secret Service is now in charge of this building, this hotel. I just spoke to Mayor Muriel Bowser. She is on her way and (Police) Chief Jeffery Carroll is on his way. He will be in charge as soon as he gets here.” By the Associated Press By the Associated Press