Barclays Center Stampede Leaves 18 Injured; Tennis Star Naomi Osaka Details Experience in the Incident
At least 18 people were left injured on Sunday at the Barclays Center after rumors of an active shooter and a false report of a shooting incident surfaced in the arena that caused a stampede.
The number of injured in the aftermath of the incident was confirmed by ABC 7 New York on Sunday, claiming that several went to the hospital with minor injuries.
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. https://t.co/LPfMO5qPzT
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) May 29, 2022
ESPN Boxing Insider Mike Coppinger said that among the reported injuries was a concussion.
Scary moment as crowds pour back into Barclays Center, my fear was a shooting but those fears proved unfounded. pic.twitter.com/pcBdfwWplt
— Ryan Songalia (@ryansongalia) May 29, 2022
Reporter Ryan Songalia tweeted footage of the commotion after the rumors of the active shooter surfaced at the Barclays Center.
The video showed people rushing towards the exit of the stadium, with others crossing through the steel rails erected in the arena.
According to New York Post, the stampede occurred in the arena that hosted the Gervonta Davis-Rolando Romero boxing match earlier that night.
Songalia also shared that a fight also broke out in the Barclays Center, and some people mistook it for a shooter.
Tennis Star Naomi Osaka Shares Her Experience During the Stampede in Barclays Center
Tennis Star Naomi Osaka was among the audience in the Barclays Center when the stampede in the arena broke out.
Osaka tweeted that she was "petrified" by the incident that left at least 18 people injured.
I really hope everyone made it out safely, since I’m tweeting this we made it out ok.
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 29, 2022
"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," Osaka underscored.
She then tweeted that she hoped everyone in the arena "made it out safely." She then assured us that she and her companions were okay.
Naomi Osaka was not the only a-list individual in the Barclays Center on the day of the stampede.
According to TMZ, "Material Girl" singer Madonna was also at the arena on Sunday for the championship match between Davis and Romero. However, it was not clear when she was present during the melee.
No Shots Were Fired at the Barclays Center - Police
The New York Police District (NYPD) on Sunday confirmed that there was no gunshot at the Barclays Center.
It was also unclear how the rumors of an active shooter at the arena spread. However, a security guard reportedly noted that the rumor was about someone who fired shots outside the arena.
However, the police believed that the loud noise mistaken as the gunshot came from an excited fan who may have kicked or thrown a garbage can, per ABC 7 New York.
Cops reported that a fight also broke out near Atlantic Avenue and Fort Greene Place at around one in the morning, involving a man that ran towards the Atlantic Terminal Mall.
Reports claimed that the crowds then came running in the same direction, contending that the move added to the confusion.
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This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written By: Joshua Summers
WATCH: Panic at Barclays Center After Crowd Hears Loud Noise - From CBS New York
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