SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – A local parent was among attendees who were scared for their lives at a cheer competition in Dallas on Saturday.
Reports of gunshots sent athletes and families into a panic at the Dallas Convention Center. Police say there was no active shooter , and the loud noises reported were poles falling. Despite there being no major threat, the chaos left many questioning security measures at the venue. Paige Armstrong Ewing was lucky enough to be right beside her daughter when she heard about the incident.
“They responded in pandemonium, chaos, panic to where adults were trampling children,” Ewing said. “Perception is truth. Everyone felt at that moment that there was an active shooter on site.” Ewing tells WSAV, she feels like security was lacking at the start of the event, and officials could have done more to prevent the chaos. “Had the venue staffed more police officers at the doors, they could have, helped calm the crowds. No one had an exit plan. People were getting trampled on to get locked doors, because they couldn’t get out of the building. Had police officers been there and ushered them this way. They were just self leading and self guiding with brains full of fear, and it caused a lot of havoc,” she said. In a statement, Varsity Spirit President Bill Seely wrote that safety and security are important to them and thanked first responders. Ewing says she hopes this never happens again. “The venue and the event company have the money to hire extra security. It’s totally unnecessary that these people felt so unsafe and stranded during that time,” Ewing said. The competition was canceled for the day, but many are still shaken by what could have been far worse. The event did continue Sunday, according to NBC News. Dallas Police have not arrested anyone in connection to this incident. Savannah has it’s own convention center, one that was recently expanded to hold large events like cheer competitions. WSAV reached out to a spokesperson for the Savannah Convention Center to ask about their safety plans…