A crowd of an estimated 100,000 gathered at Lake Eola Park in Orlando, Florida to watch the city’s Independence Day fireworks display panicked and stampeded during the fireworks show over an unfounded rumor of an active shooter. Firecrackers reportedly set off in the crowd that were mistaken for gunshots provoked the stampede, injuring twelve and separating families.
Screen images from videos posted to Twitter show fireworks exploding over panicked crowd.
Videos from the scene:
RUMOR: Active shooter at Lake Eola in Orlando. Crowd started to flee shortly after fireworks began. pic.twitter.com/ip6yxXZdAD
— Michael Bier (@MichaelJBier) July 5, 2022
Hundreds of people at firework show at Lake Eola suddenly start to flee down the street. Police rushing the other way. Its unclear what has happened. @fox35orlando pic.twitter.com/87GGDmTePD
— Connor Hansen FOX 35 (@Connor_R_Hansen) July 5, 2022
shooting at Lake Eola orlando . I hope everybody is ok. ???? #orlandoshooting #lakeeola pic.twitter.com/3B2zG0kuqA
— Athleats Nutrition (@weareathleats) July 5, 2022
WTF happened at Lake Eola during the fireworks show? #Orlando #4thOfJuly pic.twitter.com/xt3mo5H7wV
— Patrick Nurse✊????⚔????????⚔????️???? (@PatrickNurseFTW) July 5, 2022
People running away from @LakeEolaPark absolutely terrifying. This is the world we live in now. #lakeeola #shootingscare #orlando #downtownorlando pic.twitter.com/B3RQzDHVu5
— MC (@MattCummings_) July 5, 2022
Parents were separated from their children during the stampede.
The screams of this #mother broke my soul. I’m hoping that she found her son. #Orlando #panic #July4th #chaosinorlando #florida #lakeeola @Telemundo @fox35orlando @news6wkmg @UnivisionNews pic.twitter.com/I99f43yEuJ
— Manuel Mons (@ManuelDMons) July 5, 2022
WKMG-TV reporters described their panicked (and morbid) reaction, hiding in a news van and putting a cellphone on video record for a final record in case they didn’t make it.
News 6 anchors Lisa and Ginger give their accounts of what happened with video from Lake Eola. pic.twitter.com/foysToOOSU
— Bray (@bray_shanks) July 5, 2022
WKMG also reported twelve injured, “Someone shot off fireworks in the middle of a crowd watching the main fireworks at Lake Eola in Orlando, spooked people, set off a panic and a stampede. 12 injured, Orlando police say. YOU’RE AT A PROFESSIONAL FIREWORKS SHOW, WHY ARE YOU SHOOTING OFF FIREWORKS IN A CROWD?!?!?!?!”…That’s according to the deputy chief of Orlando police.”
That’s according to the deputy chief of Orlando police.
— Christie Zizo (@ChristieZizo) July 5, 2022
Orlando Police reported there was no shooter:
“IMPORTANT MESSAGE: To our community members now in Downtown Orlando, please know that there is NO evidence of a shooting in the area. Our officers are now working to secure the area. There is NO public safety hazard at this time…At this time, it appears that a noise during the fireworks show confused some spectators, causing the reaction. No serious injuries have been reported. Only minor injuries suffered by some spectators who fell during the commotion…FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES! If you were separated, you can make your way to our Family Reunification Designated Area at N. Rosalind Ave. & E. Robinson St. Spread the Word…UPDATE: We are happy to announce that all families at the Family Reunification Center at Rosalind & Robinson have been reunited! ** The LOST & FOUND AREA has been moved to the Lake Eola Parks Office at N. Eola Dr. & E. Washington St. Thank you for sharing!”
At this time, it appears that a noise during the fireworks show confused some spectators, causing the reaction. No serious injuries have been reported. Only minor injuries suffered by some spectators who fell during the commotion.
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) July 5, 2022
UPDATE: We are happy to announce that all families at the Family Reunification Center at Rosalind & Robinson have been reunited!
** The LOST & FOUND AREA has been moved to the Lake Eola Parks Office at N. Eola Dr. & E. Washington St.
Thank you for sharing!
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) July 5, 2022
More local coverage:
#BREAKING: A crowd of more than 100,000 people at Orlando’s Lake Eola to watch fireworks got panicked by something and fled the park. Police say there was NOT a shooting https://t.co/UDhwiTtbDh pic.twitter.com/b7WGvqpVep
— Orlando Sentinel (@orlandosentinel) July 5, 2022
One more crowd video from edge of Lake Eola captures slow build of panic and security fencing overrun.
Lake Eola, Orlando FL
4th July.
Not shooting, just panic.#lakeeola #4thOfJuly #panic pic.twitter.com/ENjEVupc9A— Davi M. Aragão (@dmaragao) July 5, 2022