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What happened at Washington Square Park in NYC? False shooting reports spark panic
Chaos erupted at Washington Square Park during a pride afterparty after people heard what sounded like gunshots ring out.
Chaos erupted at Washington Square Park during a pride afterparty after people heard what sounded like gunshots ring out. People began to panic, but no shots were confirmed.
An X account shared a video of panicked partygoers trying to flee the scene. “Washington Square Park — Partygoers ran in fear after what sounded like gunshots rang out. Chaos broke out fast. No shots confirmed, but the panic was real,” the post is captioned.
What we know
NYPD News shared an update on X, saying bear detterent was deployed by someone who is in custody. It wrote, “The NYPD is on scene at Washington Square Park. An individual deployed bear deterrent. This individual is in custody. We ask the public to remain calm.”
Meanwhile, an X post also claimed that several people, including NYPD officers, were “maced” inside Washington Square Park. A video, showing people helping individuals who were allegedly maced, is captioned, “Multiple people maced inside of Washington Square Park, including NYPD officers”.
Several pride marches are taking place across the US, including the Dyke March which concluded atWashington Square Park. According to Gay City News, “The New York City Dyke March returns, and the theme this year is Dykes Say No to Fascism. The march will begin at Bryant Park and head down Fifth Avenue, concluding in Washington Square Park. Attendees are encouraged to bring signs, water bottles, and face masks.”
However, it is unclear if this was the group involved in the chaos.
According to washingtonsqpark.org, the place is “one of New York’s most densely-used green spaces.” The website adds, “Anchored by Stanford White’s iconic Washington Arch, it is a small park–barely 10 acres–with a long and colorful history. For nearly two centuries the Square has been a place to linger, to play, to celebrate or demonstrate. It functions not only as a public park beloved by locals, but also as a campus green, a crossroads, a performance space and a magnet attracting visitors from around the world.”
