Cheerleaders seen rushing off stage amid ‘shooting scare’ at Dallas event | Video

Dallas police said a fight between two people at a convention center in Dallas on Saturday led to multiple poles falling, causing a loud noise inside the venue.

Updated on: Mar 2, 2025, 07:43:35 IST

By HT News Desk | Written by Lingamgunta Nirmitha Rao

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Several videos circulating online captured cheerleaders rushing off the stage at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas after the venue was evacuated on Saturday during the National Cheerleading Association (NCA) All-Star National Championship. Some people inside the building claimed that a shooting had occurred.

Footage on social media captured cheerleaders running off the stage at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. (X/@TheRebelPatient)

Footage on social media captured people running across streets, shouting about an alleged active shooter.

NBC News reported that Dallas Police arrived at the scene around 1 pm on Saturday. “We can confirm that there was no active shooter at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center. More information will follow when it becomes available,” Dallas Police posted on X.

Varsity Brands, the organisers of the NCA cheer competition, announced that the event had been suspended for the rest of the day.

HT.com could not independently verify the authenticity of the videos.

What led to the chaos?

According to an NBC News report, Dallas Police stated that a fight between two individuals at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center on Saturday afternoon caused multiple poles to fall, creating a loud noise inside the venue. Police confirmed that no shooting incident took place.

The noise led to panic, causing people to rush outside in a stampede, resulting in multiple non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Also Read | Gunman Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz received ‘worst news’ of losing his ‘loved one’ during Pennsylvania hospital shooting

The National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) All-Star Championship, being held at the convention center this weekend, was expected to draw around 58,000 attendees to the Dallas-Fort Worth area. A spokesperson confirmed that the competition will continue on Sunday.

NBC News reported that Brian Bianco, a spokesperson for Varsity Brands, stated, "The National Cheerleaders Association All-Star Championship will resume tomorrow." The NCA operates under Varsity Brands' Varsity Spirit division.

In a statement, Varsity Brands said, "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."

Dallas police confirmed that the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center was evacuated "as a precaution."

Authorities added that they "suspended activities for today" and would coordinate with event staff to "ensure a safe environment when we resume the event."

Event security officials are assisting police in investigating the safety concerns reported at the venue.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.