Fight, stampede cause evacuation of thousands at Dallas cheer competition, police say
A fight between two individuals at a Dallas cheerleading competition prompted a stampede and the evacuation of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center on Saturday, Dallas police said.
The convention center is the site of the National Cheerleaders Association’s 2025 national championship.
The incident was originally reported to police as a possible active-shooter situation, but the investigation later determined that a fight led to multiple poles being knocked down which made a loud noise, police said.
The noise caused a panic inside the building as attendees stampeded for the exits, officials said.
Video obtained by WFAA-TV shows parents and children fleeing the convention center. Over 30,000 athletes were in town for the competition, according to WFAA.
Several people suffered non-life threatening injuries as a result of the stampede and no shooting occurred, Dallas police said in a statement.
The remainder of the day’s competition has been suspended, according to a post on the National Cheerleaders Association’s Facebook page.
The convention center was evacuated as a precaution, and a family reunification center has been established at 400 North Lamar Street.
It was not immediately clear whether anyone had been arrested.
