The New York State Fair closed early on Sunday as crowds fled amid reports of violence , including gunshots being fired.
The event, described on its website as a "celebration of delicious food, eye-opening exhibits, captivating entertainment, and great fun", is held in Syracuse from August 21 to September 2. State police said they received a call about possible shots between the midway and the concert arena at Suburban Park at 8.38pm last night.
Just minutes later, there were also reports of shots being fired at the eatery building. Officials said no evidence of shots being fired or anyone being injured was found, but organizers decided to shut down the event early . Usually, the fair closes at 11pm. Police said they are continuing to investigate the false shooting reports.
The Fair said in a statement: "After consulting with law enforcement, the decision was made to close the fair early on Sunday night out of an abundance of caution after New York State Police received reports of violence within the fairgrounds. The Fair is continuing to work with law enforcement and emergency personnel to assess the situation.
"The safety of fairgoers, staff, and vendors is the highest priority of The Great New York State Fair. Any further inquiries should be directed to the New York State Police."
New York State Police said in a statement: "On September 1, 2024, at 8:38 p.m., State Police assigned to the New York State Fair received a call of possible shots fired between the midway and concert at Suburban Park. At 8:41 p.m., State Police received a secondary call of possible shots fired at the eatery building.
"Troopers responded to both reports and determined that there was no evidence of shots fired or anyone being injured. After consulting with Fair officials, the decision was made to close the Fair early on Sunday night. State Police continue to investigate the false reports."
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It comes just days after a fight and a "popping noise" sparked panic at Disney's Magic Kingdom . The incident unfolded at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida , as the park was closing at around 10pm on Thursday.
A witness said the chaos unfolded just after the "Happy Ever After" fireworks show ended. He said he was with his family in a store, when all of a sudden, many people rushed into it.
He told Fox 35 Orlando that security instructed the family to take cover inside the store and while he didn't feel that his life was "totally endangered", he said several people were "quite upset" and some of them were praying. Rumors of an active shooter soon spread, with people sharing posts on social media.
However, the Orange County Sheriff's Office soon denied the rumors and blamed the chaotic scenes on a fight, followed by a balloon pop. They wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: "ALERT: There is NO active shooter at @WaltDisneyWorld's Magic Kingdom. A fight occurred, and a 'popping' sound was heard that we believe was a balloon. Guests began running and that's how the active shooter rumor started. There is no active shooter."
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