A fight at the downtown Dallas convention center where the National Cheerleaders Association All-Star Championship is being held this weekend caused loud noises that led to panic and injuries today, officials said.
The Dallas Police Department responded to an “incident” at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center around 1 p.m. local time and determined no shooting had occurred. Police said two people had gotten into a fight, which caused multiple poles to fall, creating loud noises in the building.
The loud noises led to “panic,” the police department said, prompting people in attendance to “rush outside in a stampede.”
Police evacuated the building as a precaution, the department said, and shut down the cheer event for the day.
It will resume tomorrow, said a spokesperson for Varsity Brands, of which the NCA is a part.
Ten people were taken to hospitals with injuries ranging from bumps and bruises to fractured extremities, Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesperson Jason Evans said. The injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.
The NCA All-Star Championship is expected to bring more than 58,000 people to the area through the weekend, more than 30,000 of them cheerleaders from 43 states and nine countries, according to the cheerleading organization.
10 people taken to hospitals for injuries
Natalie Obregon and Rebecca Cohen
Ten people were taken to hospitals after the chaos that ensued at the Dallas convention center today, said Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesperson Jason Evans.
The injuries ranged from bumps and bruises to fractured extremities, he said, and all occurred during the evacuation. None of the injuries were life-threatening.
People can collect belongings from convention center tonight
People who left belongings in the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center can return to pick up their things tonight from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Small groups will be allowed in at the same time and staff will escort people to the places where they left their items, the convention center said.
Any items not retrieved today will be put in a lost and found and can be picked up tomorrow.
Cheer competition to resume tomorrow
Natalie Obregon and Rebecca Cohen
The National Cheerleaders Association All-Star Championship will resume tomorrow, Brian Bianco, a spokesperson for Varsity Brands, said in a statement.
The NCA is a part of Varsity Brands in its Varsity Spirit division.
“As a precaution, we suspended activities for today and will continue to work with event staff and local authorities to ensure a safe environment for our athletes to finish competing when we resume tomorrow,” the statement said.
No shooting at Dallas convention center
Natalie Obregon and Rebecca Cohen
There was no shooting at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center today, the Dallas Police Department said in a statement.
Police responded to the convention center at around 1 p.m. and found that two people had gotten into a fight, which led to multiple poles being knocked down, causing a loud noise in the building.
“This noise contributed to panic inside the building, prompting people to rush outside in a stampede,” police said. “There were multiple non-life-threatening injuries during the chaos.”
Convention center evacuated as ‘precaution,’ police say
Cristian Santana and Rebecca Cohen
The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, where the cheer competition was being held, has been evacuated “as a precaution,” according to police.
Police said they “suspended activities for today” and will work with event staff to “ensure a safe environment when we resume the event.”
Security officials at the event are working with police to investigate the reports of safety concerns.
Police confirm there was no active shooter at cheerleading event
Reporting from New York, NY
Dallas police said there was no active shooter at the cheerleading competition.
“We can confirm that there was no active shooter at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center,” the department said in a statement on X. “More information will follow when it becomes available.”
Dallas police change location of family reunification center
Reporting from New York, NY
Dallas police said in a statement on X that they’ve relocated a designated family reunification center to 400 N Lamar St.
Girls in cheerleading uniforms fleeing convention center
Reporting from New York, NY
Crowds of young girls in cheerleading uniforms are seen moving away from the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in downtown Dallas.
Screams of young children could be heard in the background amid police sirens.
Thousands expected at National Cheerleaders Association championship event
Reporting from New York City
The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center is hosting the National Cheerleaders Association All-Star Championship this weekend.
The competition is expected to draw more than 58,000 people to the Dallas-Fort Worth area this weekend. More than 30,000 of them are cheerleaders from 43 states and nine countries, according to the cheerleading organization.
Dallas police say they’re investigating an ‘incident’ at large cheerleading competition
The Dallas Police Department urged people to avoid the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, where a cheerleading competition is taking place this weekend.
“Dallas Police are investigating an incident near the Omni Hotel and Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center,” the department said in a statement on X. “Please avoid this area.”
The department added that a family reunification center has been established at its headquarters.