Panic erupted at a packed cheerleading championship in Dallas after a loud crash inside the venue sent thousands of terrified attendees running for the exits, with many fearing the worst.
The frightening scene unfolded Saturday, March 1, at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center during the National Cheerleaders Association All-Star National Championship.
Videos and images shared on social media showed crowds rushing into the streets as panic spread through the massive event. Early posts claimed possible gunfire, but Dallas police later said no shots were fired and there was no active shooter.
Authorities said the chaos began after a fight broke out between two people inside the convention center. During the altercation, several poles were knocked over, creating a loud crashing sound that many people mistook for gunshots.
The noise triggered a stampede as attendees scrambled to get out of the building. The competition had drawn a huge crowd, including 30,410 athletes and 3,700 coaches. The weekend event was expected to bring in roughly 58,000 people in total.
Dallas Fire-Rescue said 10 people were taken to the hospital after the frantic evacuation. None of the injuries were considered life-threatening.
“All of the injuries were sustained during the evacuation, and none were life-threatening,” Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman Jason Evans said. “They ranged in severity from bumps and bruises to extremity fractures.”
As a precaution, law enforcement evacuated the entire convention center and suspended the rest of the day’s activities. Officials also set up a family reunification center at 400 North Lamar St. as frightened parents and children tried to find one another.
For families inside the venue, the moments after the crash were terrifying.
NCA cheer mom Makayla Cossey said panic swept through the crowd almost instantly.
“The moms were sitting there and all I know was we were just looking around and people were screaming – running, jumping off all the bleachers,” Cossey said.
Her first thought was her 9-year-old daughter.
“All I could think of is where is my 9-year-old daughter? I was terrified. I was on the phone with my husband that’s out of state crying, bawling,” she said.
Cheerleader Destiny Hinton described being caught in the rush of people trying to escape.
“I tripped and then had people step on me and then I ran a mile past the Alamo Cinema – a mile past that – and I hid in a dumpster,” she said.
For cheer mom Joyce Sterling, the evacuation turned into a desperate search for her daughter.
“She was in all-out panic trying to find me,” Sterling said. “She was like, ‘I’m outside, I’m outside.’ We were still inside, and we saw people running everywhere. It was just mayhem. It was crazy.”
Dallas police said they are still investigating the fight that sparked the panic.
“All the available information has been released,” Dallas Police Department spokeswoman Melinda Gutierrez said Saturday night.
Brian Bianco, senior director of strategic communications for Varsity Brands, said NCA security officials were working with law enforcement to review what happened.
Despite the frightening ordeal, NCA officials said the championship would resume as planned on Sunday.
