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With nation on edge, panic breaks out at Barclays Center in NYC over active shooter false alarm

May 29, 2022 | | Print Article

Anxiety from what some perceived as an active-shooter situation reportedly prompted a near-stampede at the Barclays Center in New York City after a boxing match on late Saturday evening as the crowd was exiting the arena.

Although people are on edge particularly after two recent mass shootings, the NYPD says no shots were fired, and it was a false alarm, however, according to the New York Post.

Some ticket buyers were apparently injured in the chaotic situation.

“We’re used to brawls at boxing events but recent headlines and the panic of the crowd made many of us worried that our worst fears would come true,” boxing reporter Ryan Songalia told the news outlet. “Thankfully we were able to return to our seats to file our stories and exit safely.”

He added that the boxing fans were “definitely frightened, it wasn’t like they were just moving back inside to get away from a few people throwing punches. It was as if they were running for their lives.”

Songalia told the Post that a fight occurred outside, the venue, which is also the home of the NBA Brooklyn Nets, “and some mistook the commotion for a shooter.

“Those fears were unfounded,” he noted on Twitter, along with some footage of the crowd scattering.

Tennis star Naomi Osaka, who was in attendance, tweeted (*warning for language), tweeted that “I was just in the Barclays center and suddenly I heard shouting and saw people running, then we were being yelled at that there was an active shooter and we had to huddle in a room and close the doors, I was so f—–g petrified man.”

In a Twitter thread, Sports Illustrated writer Chris Mannix — who was also there — initially claimed that there were “sounds of gunshots inside Barclays Center.”

“Frightening moments. Hundreds of fans started to rush back into the arena from the concourse. People — including media — ducking for cover,” he added.  “Crowd that was headed for the exits immediately starts rushing back into the arena.”

He subsequently messaged that “No shots were fired inside Barclays, a source told SI. Whatever happened took place just outside the building.”

NYPD detective Adam Navarro told the Washington Post that “Once we looked into it, we found it was a bunch of nothing,” although he noted that 10 people received care at a local hospital for minor injuries.

“There was some kind of sound disturbance where people became a little afraid — some ran toward the Barclays Center, some ran away from it,” Navarro said. “People are banging into each other, so you had 10 individuals — no children — who had minor injuries and went to area hospitals at approximately 1 o’clock outside the location,” Navarro explained.

Early this morning, ESPN boxing reporter Mike Coppinger shared Osaka’s tweet and added the following information: “A Barclays Center security supervisor told ESPN there was a person with a gun in the main plaza that led to a stampede back into the arena. Multiple people transported to hospital. Official estimated approximately a dozen injuries. Among them: a concussion and an elbow injury.”

Twitter user with the handle Thatkidfrombk shared some video on social media:

Inside the ring, Gervonta Davis defeated Rolando Romero by TKO in the sixth round to retain the World Boxing Association lightweight belt.

Here are some other social media reactions to the post-fight panic from eyewitnesses before authorities determined it was a false alarm (*warning for language):

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