On Saturday, March 1, a fight between parents led to mass panic at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center during the NCA All-Star Championships. Firsthand reports claim a loud bang was heard, causing people to assume there was an active shooter, resulting in a stampede. Upon investigation, authorities determined the noise came from poles being knocked down during the chaos of the fight.
Reports of an active shooter first came at around 1 p.m., but as police arrived, it became clear that the panic was from a dispute between adults that was misinterpreted. With the NCA championships being the biggest competition in the world, thousands of people were in attendance, allowing the situation to escalate quickly. Firsthand accounts said people were yelling “active shooter” while running out of the building. In times like these, you don’t stop to determine if you’re in danger, you just do what you need to protect yourself and your family based on instinct. This reaction is what generally causes mass panic, but it also shows how quickly people react when danger presents itself.
After everything, there were over 10 injuries, all non-fatal, ranging from bruises to severe fractures. These injuries resulted from the panic rather than the fight itself. A major challenge was ensuring that all athletes were accounted for. To help with this, police set up a reunification site for teams to gather and make sure no members got lost or injured in the chaos. Some teams also posted on social media when everyone was found to ease the nerves of worried family members.
All events for the remainder of the day were canceled but the competition, being weekend long, continued and got resumed on Sunday as normal. To reassure the safety of attendants Varsity claimed further security measures were to be taken. However, some teams claimed to see no noticeable changes, leading many to question Varsity’s handling of the situation. Varsity offered ticket refunds and counseling for the people affected.
Social media posts from athletes in attendance share videos of them hiding or running out of fear. TikTok accounts like @allstarcheerhq shared videos of the massive stampedes, sirens blaring, and people crying as they ran for safety, fearing for their lives. These truly depict how traumatizing the experience was when the event occurred and allows people to better understand how it felt to be involved in the incident.
In the end, no arrests were made as security footage pointed towards the fight rather than a shooter. The parents responsible have yet to be identified. The Dallas Police Department stated that after a thorough investigation, there was no evidence of a shooting or any threat, leaving the case closed.
Varsity announced that NCA All-Star nationals will not return to Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center for at least the next three years. The competition will instead move to Houston, Texas, due to current renovations in the Dallas location. This, however, may be for the best as many feel unsafe after the event and a location change will put athletes and coaches at ease.
