Chaos Erupts as Fears of Active Shooter Trigger Mass Panic in Dallas

DALLAS, Texas — A wave of panic swept through the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center on Saturday afternoon, as attendees rushed for safety amid unfounded fears of an active shooter. The chaos left many seeking refuge in nearby establishments, including the Guest 365 Convenience Store, which became an impromptu shelter.

Store owner Amie Amogu said that within minutes of hearing the commotion, frightened individuals began entering her shop. “It was less than five minutes after I heard about it that I turned around and I’m seeing people coming in and I’m like, ‘Come in and stay, wherever you can,’” she recalled.

Surveillance footage captured the scene shortly after 1 p.m., with numerous people racing toward the store in sheer panic. “We didn’t know what was going on. All we had was just fear,” Amogu said, reflecting on the uncertainty that gripped the area.

Inside the store, those fleeing included cheerleaders and their parents, who were soon ushered to the back for safety. Clerk Emmanuel Edesili described the heart-wrenching sight of children in distress. “What broke my heart was seeing the young kids panicking,” he said. Edesili took precautionary measures by turning off the store’s lights.

Amogu estimated that around 40 people sought shelter inside her store, anxiously waiting for updates. One young girl, visibly shaken, called her mother to express her fears. “I’m scared I don’t want to die,” the girl told her mom, a moment that resonated deeply with Amogu.

As the situation unfolded, Amogu contacted 911 for reassurance. After approximately ten minutes of uncertainty, authorities confirmed that there was no immediate threat, and the group gradually began to emerge from the store, some visibly shaken by the experience. “They’re so heartbroken about could there really be a shooter out there looking for them,” she remarked.

Amogu and her staff quickly mobilized to help those in distress, including assisting a woman who experienced a medical emergency amid the chaos. “The background my family and I come from is one where we are our brother’s keeper, so once we got the opportunity to help people, we were happy to do so,” she said.

In a follow-up report, Dallas Police addressed widely circulated images on social media purportedly showing bullet holes at the Convention Center. Authorities clarified that the damage was related to an incident from 2019 and confirmed that there was no evidence of a shooting occurring on Saturday.