The annual Run 4 The Roses girls’ basketball tournament at Louisville’s Kentucky Exposition Center drew more than 2,000 teams and about 9,000 young athletes on championship Sunday. Just after 3:15 p.m., reports of an “active aggressor” triggered a swift mass evacuation from the venue. Panicked families, many mid-game, fled toward exits and took cover wherever possible some even locked themselves in restrooms while law enforcement and emergency services mobilized rapidly.
Witness Molly King, a player from Tennessee, recounted that mid-game, she spotted people streaming toward the doors. Her coach caught on and shouted, “let’s go,” igniting a rush toward safety . According to another coach, Isaiah Flowers, fire alarms and sirens added to the confusion and urgency, as crowds surged out, “just trying to get outside”.
After extensive searches at both the Expo Center and neighboring Kentucky Kingdom amusement park, police advanced that the threat had been unfounded no shots fired, no gunman, and no confirmed victims . At most, a few individuals sustained minor injuries scrapes and bruises from the stampeding evacuations . LMPD’s Homeland Security unit has launched an inquiry to trace the origin of the alarm and, if warranted, pursue legal action.
In wake of the scare, tournament organizers postponed all remaining games to Monday, July 14. They also announced enhanced security measures mandatory bag checks and handheld metal detector screenings at all entrances to protect participants and attendees . Parents voiced deep concern, calling the incident a heartbreaking reflection of our reality and lamenting that kids are increasingly accustomed to emergency drills at events ﹘ not the carefree environments they deserve.
