Witnesses describe ‘chaos’ after stories of gunshots at Worlds of Fun occasion

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — What started because the opening evening for Worlds of Fun’s Halloween Haunt become chaos Saturday after stories of gunshots prompted the evacuation of the amusement park.

Kansas City, Missouri, police investigators spent Monday persevering with their probe into the incident.

A police division spokesman instructed KSHB 41 reporter Rachel Henderson they decided there was no indication of gunfire.

The sounds that sparked panic had been fireworks, not gunshots, in keeping with the Kansas City Police Department.

“Thankfully there was no gunfire, but it was still a bad incident,” mentioned Jake LaCombe, a witness.

Rachel Henderson/KSHB 41

Blaine Brandon was on the park Saturday evening when he heard what he thought had been 5 to 6 loud pops.

“You have 500-800 people running at one time, people are getting trampled,” Brandon said. “Moms are screaming and crying, children screaming and crying.

Brandon described the scene as “very chaotic” and said his family didn’t get to enjoy their expensive experience at the packed Halloween event.

Rachel Henderson/KSHB 41

LaCombe mentioned he heard individuals yell “shots fired” a number of instances all through the park.

“I don’t remember hearing any loud pops or anything, but all it took was that for everyone to start running,” LaCombe mentioned. “I don’t know if they heard anything or if they were just trying to make a ruse.”

Both witnesses expressed issues about supervision on the occasion.

“I noticed there was a lot of unattended juveniles,” LaCombe mentioned.

“There’s no supervision for them,” Brandon said. “They’re there in mass crowds being adolescents.”

Brandon also raised concerns about security measures at the park and described what he witnessed.

“I’ve watched them bounce over fences and run beneath the patriot and bounce over the following fence and so they’re laughing as a result of they bought in free of charge,” Brandon said. “I’ve watched a number of individuals get in with backpacks. They did not even verify them.”

KSHB 41

Despite police findings that no gunfire occurred, Brandon expressed frustration with how the incident has been characterised.

He says he’s assured in what he heard and noticed, which included a combat that broke out amongst a gaggle of adolescents.

LaCombe mentioned he additionally noticed a combat happen and desires to see extra grownup supervision.

“It makes me angry, in a way,” Brandon said. “I feel uneasy because they’re downplaying what happened, saying it was just fireworks.”

Worlds of Fun does have a chaperone policy requiring children 15 and under to be accompanied by an adult.

In a statement Monday, Worlds of Fun said staff followed safety protocols during the incident.

The company also announced it has returned tickets that are valid through Nov. 1.

The emotional impact on families like Brandon’s remains significant.

“None of my children need to return,” Brandon said. “The worst half about it’s even when it is not bodily injury, it’s emotional injury.”

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