“It was a nightmare” | Local cheer teams caught in chaos during stampede at national cheer competition in Dallas
DALLAS – A national cheerleading championship in Dallas turned into a scene of chaos and panic when a false report (according to police) of an active shooter triggered a massive stampede. Thousands of young athletes, parents, and coaches scrambled for safety, with many getting separated in the mayhem.
The incident occurred on March 1, at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, where the National Cheerleaders Association All-Star Championship was underway. At approximately 1:00 p.m., Dallas police received reports of a possible shooter, but later confirmed that no shots were fired. Instead, police say a fight between two attendees near the Omni Hotel led to a large pole being knocked over, causing a loud noise that sparked widespread panic.
Despite police reassurances, numerous attendees maintain they heard gunshots, intensifying the confusion and fear that swept through the massive arena.
Among the near 58,000 people in attendance, 30,410 were athletes. In that number were 14 teams from Baton Rouge based cheer company, Louisiana Cheerforce. The groups were split around the large facility. Each Hall features a stage and seating for coaches, family and friends.
One Mom who spoke to UWK described each hall to be approximately the size of the Baton Rouge River Center Theatre.
At the time of the chaos, all three moms were in or around the competition halls. Locations they described to be approximately a mile away from where the fight happened.
Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. The red circle indicates where the original altercation took place.
Three Moms, Three Terrifying Perspectives
Michelle Valverde: Separated in the Chaos
Michelle Valverde, a Baton Rouge mother attending the event with her daughters, recalled the terrifying experience as she and her family became separated in the stampede.
“We had just sat down in Hall C, waiting for my youngest daughter’s awards ceremony, when suddenly we heard commotion behind us. Then, a stampede of people started running and screaming, ‘There’s a shooter!’” she said.
As people fled, Michelle was separated from her group, while frantically searching for her youngest daughter.
“I was hiding behind a concrete embankment, trying to call my child’s coach,” she said. “Then a Dad ran up to me and said, ‘The police are putting on their heavy artillery vests, you’ve got to get out of here.’ So we ran again.”
She insists she heard gunshots, despite official reports dismissing the claims.
“There were at least two waves of panic. Kids were getting trampled, parents were screaming, and we were all just running with no idea what was happening,” she said. “I just don’t believe that all of this was caused by a fight.”
Michelle and her daughters were eventually reunited at their hotel. Though relieved, she struggles with the emotional aftermath. “This was the most traumatic day of our lives,” she said. “And now, we’re just being told that nothing happened. It’s hard to process.”
Brittany LeBlanc and her daughter.
Brittany LeBlanc: Leading a Team to Safety
Brittany LeBlanc, another LA Cheerforce mother, was sitting in the bleachers when she overheard a call to her nearby friend warning them of a possible shooter.
“I immediately took off running to alert our team, Peach,” she said. “I yelled, ‘It’s an emergency. Come with me.’ That’s when another coach locked eyes with me, and I told her, ‘We have to go now.’”
Then, she heard what she believed to be gunshots.
“All of a sudden, I hear the distinct sound of a gunshot. The screams were deafening. It was like an entire stadium shaking,” Brittany recounted.
She ran with about 12 girls. They jumped over high railings and kept running until they had to pause for breath. Then another round of panic erupted.
“We heard ‘pat pat’ outside the building, followed by another stampede. It started all over again,” she said.
Brittany and her group took shelter in a concrete bathroom until the danger had seemingly passed.
Varsity acknowledged the situation in a statement sent out that evening that offered sympathy and resources for those struggling. The organization also expressed their commitment to assuring safety at their events.
“Varsity Brands takes the safety and security of our athletes, coaches and spectators very seriously. We maintain a strong security presence at all of our events that includes uniformed and plain clothes officers, and we work closely with local police, fire and rescue officials to ensure emergency response plans are in place. We are committed to continuously reviewing and strengthening our safety and security protocols to enhance the safety of our events.”
The next day, when the competition resumed, ‘no-gun’ signs were added along with additional unarmed security personnel in red vests. Despite those efforts, Brittany was shocked by the lack of heightened, armed security.
“There were no police officers inside. No bag checks. No metal detectors. Nothing,” she said. “How can we feel safe after what happened? We deserve better.”
Ellen Pino: Trampled in the Stampede
Among those also calling for a better response and accountability is cheer Mom and entrepreneur, Ellen Pino.
Pino criticized the lack of security measures, emphasizing the need for better regulation and screening at such large events. She is calling for accountability from the event’s host and the city of Dallas which owns the Omni Hotel and the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.
“I mean, they’re (Varsity) culpable, whether they like it or not. I think the city of Dallas is also culpable, because what are the fire marshal requirements for an event of that magnitude, and did they actually do what they’re supposed to do? I don’t know. It doesn’t seem like it.”
In a post that has gone viral, one man gave a vivid account of his experience during the chaos. Pino says she and her daughter were right next to him. She says they were walking between Halls B and C when the chaos erupted. She recalled the moment she was knocked down and trampled by the panicked crowd.
“A woman turned around with terror in her eyes and screamed, ‘He’s got a gun! Run!’ Then everyone rushed toward us,” Ellen said.
She grabbed her daughter and attempted to flee but was soon overwhelmed.
“I got shoved to the ground, and at least 15 people piled on top of me. I was screaming for my daughter, but I couldn’t see her,” she said. “As I was on the ground, I clearly heard ‘pop, pop, pop, pop.’ Then, silence.”
Moments later, another round of chaos erupted as new rumors of the shooter’s location spread.
“Then we heard another rush of people. So we jumped around another corner and it was another scuffle, like people started screaming again,” she recalled.
Pino, owner of Avant Tous Beauty and Medical Spa, also dismissed the police’s explanation that the incident was caused by a distant fight.
“We’ve seen fights at cheer events before, but nothing like this. We all heard the same thing: gunshots and two waves of sheer terror,” Ellen insisted. “It wasn’t just a fight at the Omni – which was like a mile away from us.”
Despite the trauma, she expressed gratitude that no lives were lost.
“I’m thankful no one died and that the kids were reunited with their parents. It could’ve been so much worse,” she said.
Official Statements & Lingering Questions
Dallas Police released a report confirming that the panic was sparked by a fight and a falling pole.
“The preliminary investigation determined a fight between two people led to multiple poles being knocked down, which caused a loud noise,” the statement continued. “No shooting occurred.”
Multiple attendees suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the stampede, and a family reunification center was immediately set up.
Varsity, the event’s organizer, acknowledged the disruption and assured attendees that they are reviewing security measures. UWK reached out directly and asked if the company planned to make specific security updates. We received this response.
“The events of March 1 were deeply unsettling, and we remain committed to supporting those affected while reinforcing the security measures at our competitions.
We are taking immediate action to further enhance safety at our competitions, including increased police presence, deploying weapon detection technology, and continuing to enforce a strict zero-tolerance policy for misconduct. Additionally, we are providing counseling resources, ticket refunds and a virtual competition opportunity for teams unable to compete due to the disruption.
We are grateful for the strength and resilience of the cheer community and will continue working closely with security professionals, venue partners, and law enforcement to ensure that Varsity Spirit events remain a safe and supportive place for young athletes to compete and grow.
On March 5th, Varsity Spirit CEO, Bill Seely released an open letter to the cheer community to provide additional reassurance. However, many parents, including Michelle, Brittany, and Ellen, remain skeptical.
With the NCA All-Star Championship set to move to Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center for the next three years, affected families are demanding increased security protocols and transparency.
“The way this was handled was unacceptable,” Brittany said. “Something like this should never happen again.”
Megan began her career in the news broadcast field as a TV producer and reporter nearly 20 years ago. "Once a newsie, always a newsie. Journalism never really leaves you. Telling stories and making a difference is an honor." Megan is also an entrepreneur. She owns two businesses: MHK (public relations) and the Mompreneur Nation.
