DALLAS, Texas (WHNT) — The National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) All-Star Nationals in Texas is one of the biggest competitive cheer competitions in the world and on Saturday, it ended with athletes and spectators running out of the convention center seeking cover.

On Saturday around 1 p.m., the Dallas Police Department said officers responded to a call at 650 S. Griffin Street, the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center, regarding an active shooter.

DPD wrote that the preliminary investigation determined a fight between two people led to “multiple poles being knocked down, which caused a loud noise.”

The department said this noise contributed to “panic” inside the building, prompting people to rush outside in a stampede.

Dallas police said there were multiple non-life-threatening injuries during the stampede.

“No shooting occurred,” DPD wrote.

A family reunification center was set up at 400 Lamar Street.

Shortly after the incident, NCA released a statement saying the convention center had been evacuated as a “precaution based on reports of a safety concern.” NCA also reposted a message from DPD that said, “We can confirm that there was no active shooter at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. More information will follow when it becomes available.”

CheerVille, a nationwide gym with a location in Madison, released the following statement shortly after the incident:

There was an incident at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, TX this afternoon. The competition has been suspended for the rest of the day.

All CheerVille athletes and coaches are safe and accounted for. We are thankful for law enforcement for keeping our families safe.

CheerVille

NCA has yet to release an additional statement regarding Sunday’s competition; however, after looking through schedules on Varsity’s website (NCA’s parent company), it seems as if the competition has resumed

ACE Cheer Company said athletes from Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Jackson, Miss. were in attendance. ACE of Madison told News 19 its athletes were not in attendance this year.

“Our ACE Cheer Company family from Birmingham, Jackson and Tuscaloosa are all safe. We are grateful for the messages of support and love. Thank you for everyone who reached out to our Tribe. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone during this time. We wish peace and comfort to our ACE Cheer Company families and everyone involved,” ACE wrote.

Varsity All-Star wrote that over 25,000 participants and 38,000 spectators attend the competition, with numbers growing each year.

News 19 has reached out to other cheer gyms in North Alabama to learn more about the incident.

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