- Local
- Community
- Journalism
Support the independent voice of Houston and help keep the future of Houston Press free.
Reports of gunfire rang in about 9:37 p.m. last night on the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo grounds, but police could find no evidence any shots were fired.
Those inside NRG Stadium were placed on lockdown just as the Thomas Rhett show was ending, people inside the arena said. They were reportedly told there had been an "incident" but did not know that the incident was suspected gunfire. Meanwhile, those on the carnival grounds were trying to leave, many of them running.
#khou11 virwers like Henry Ramos used cellphone to capture commotion at #RodeoHouston. More on the shooting scare at 5:30 pic.twitter.com/6mDHy4AWs2
— Melissa Correa (@MCorreaKHOU) March 16, 2017
But by 10:42 p.m., police announced on Twitter that they could find no evidence that a shooting occurred and were questioning "several juveniles." No one was injured.
RodeoHouston released this statement around 12:30 a.m.: "The safety of our Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo guests is always our highest priority. Show security is staffed by officers from the Houston Police Department, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. HPD has investigated the incident reported at NRG Park Wednesday night and has stated that they have found no weapons, have no suspect is in custody, and there are no reported injuries. As a precaution, Show officials instructed people to shelter in place for a short time until officers determined that conditions were safe."
Police have yet to determine what caused the reports of gunfire that sent people running for the exits. The carnival was back up and running by the time police gave the all clear.
Keep the Houston Press Free... Since we started the Houston Press, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Houston, and we would like to keep it that way. Offering our readers free access to incisive coverage of local news, food and culture. Producing stories on everything from political scandals to the hottest new bands, with gutsy reporting, stylish writing, and staffers who've won everything from the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi feature-writing award to the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism. But with local journalism's existence under siege and advertising revenue setbacks having a larger impact, it is important now more than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. You can help by participating in our "I Support" membership program, allowing us to keep covering Houston with no paywalls.
