Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka declared she was ‘petrified’ after being caught in a Barclays Centre stampede as fans frantically tried to leave the arena or find cover after a false alarm of a shooting outside led to panic.
Many spectators were injured in the rush as crowds reportedly ‘ran for their lives’ at the Brooklyn venue, which was hosting the boxing bout between Gervonta Davis and Rolando Romero. Fans feared there was an active shooter in the main plaza and battled to find cover, but the New York Police Department has since denied that any shots were fired.
According to ESPN’s boxing reporter Mike Coppinger, multiple people were rushed to hospital. It was reportedly a sight that broke out as the public were leaving the arena, which sparked commotion that many mistook for a shooting.
