DALLAS — The annual NCA All-Star National Championship resumed Sunday, a day after sources said a fight among parents led to panic in Downtown Dallas at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.
Dallas police responded to the convention center where sources told WFAA parents attending the cheer competition were fighting.
Numerous social media users expressed concern about a possible shooting, but police sources told WFAA there were no shots fired. Dallas police later confirmed Saturday afternoon on X that there was not an active shooter. In a press release sent out via email Saturday afternoon, Dallas police said officers responded to an active shooter call. Their investigation determined a fight between two people led to multiple poles being knocked down, which caused a loud noise.
This noise contributed to panic inside the building, prompting people to rush outside in a stampede, DPD said. According to Dallas police, there were multiple non-life-threatening injuries during the chaos. People were seen running across the streets of downtown away from the convention center, which is only a couple blocks away from WFAA.
No arrests have been made relating to the incident, police sources told WFAA.
The competition resumed at 8 a.m. Sunday with “with athletes and our crowd in good spirits,” Varsity Brands, who run the NCA cheer competition, said in a statement.
Dallas police posted to X on Saturday afternoon that a family reunification center was established at 400 N. Lamar Street.
UPDATE: the Family Reunification Center will be at 400 N Lamar.
— Dallas Police Dept (@DallasPD) March 1, 2025
The NCA cheer event has drawn thousands of cheerleaders and their families to Downtown Dallas. Sunday morning, several families and athletes attending the competition elected not to return Sunday morning, according to several families attending the event.
Varsity Brands issued the following statement Saturday afternoon.
“Earlier today, The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center was evacuated as a precaution based on reports of a safety concern. NCA security officials immediately began working with the Dallas Police Department to quickly investigate, which found that the incident was triggered by an altercation between two attendees, which led to panic and multiple non-life-threatening injuries in the aftermath. We want to thank the Dallas Police Department for their help assessing and controlling the situation as well as the first responders who assisted those impacted.
As a precaution, we suspended activities for today and will continue to work with event staff and local authorities to ensure a safe environment for our athletes to finish competing when we resume tomorrow.”
Hours after the convention center evacuation, families huddled outside, waiting to re-enter and grab the things they left behind in the chaos. Emergency alarms were still sounding off and flashing inside the convention center around 7 p.m. Saturday.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
