Authorities have revealed the cause of the mass panic in Dallas after crowds of people were seen running in fear.
A terrifying scene unfolded at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas on Saturday (March 1) when a loud noise triggered mass panic at the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) All-Star National Championship.
Videos and images shared to social media showed hundreds of people flooding the streets, as mass panic spread.
Despite initial posts suggesting that gunfire had been heard, the Dallas Police Department has since confirmed that the commotion was sparked by a fight between two individuals inside the venue, CBS News reported.
During the altercation, several poles were knocked over, creating a loud crashing sound that many mistook for gunfire.
The sudden noise led to a stampede as thousands of attendees - including 30,410 athletes and 3,700 coaches - rushed for the exits in fear of an active shooter. The event was expected to draw a total of 58,000 people over the weekend.
Dallas Police later confirmed that no shots were fired and that there was no active shooter at the event.
The chaotic evacuation resulted in injuries as people scrambled to escape. Dallas Fire-Rescue reported that 10 people were taken to the hospital, but none suffered life-threatening injuries.
"All of the injuries were sustained during the evacuation, and none were life-threatening," Jason Evans, a spokesman for Dallas Fire-Rescue, 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 day's activities. A family reunification center was also set up at 400 North Lamar St.
For many parents and cheerleaders, the experience was pure terror. NCA cheer mom Makayla Cossey described the moment panic erupted: "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."
Her biggest fear at that moment was not being able to find 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 added.
Cheerleader Destiny Hinton also recalled the horror of being caught in the crowd. "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 scene was complete mayhem as she desperately tried to locate her daughter.
"She (her daughter) 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."
Authorities are still investigating the initial fight that led to the panic. "All the available information has been released," Dallas Police Department spokeswoman Melinda Gutierrez said on Saturday night.
Brian Bianco, senior director of strategic communications for Varsity Brands, confirmed that NCA security officials are working with law enforcement to review the incident.
Despite the scary ordeal, NCA officials have confirmed that the event will resume as planned on Sunday.