Something very scary is happening around Nationals Park tonight, and those in the ballpark believe it was gunshots outside the stadium. (SEE UPDATE BELOW: There was a shooting, but it seems the situation is now under control. Original post follows.)
The Nationals-Padres broadcast is a bit at a loss to describe what’s happening, but the fans are running to various exits throughout the park: “Everyone trying to get to safety … I don’t even know what safety is right now …. We’re sitting on the floor of our broadcast booth and fans have been sprinting out the gates.”
Fans could be seen running onto the field and into the dugouts at Nationals Park as the PA announcer tells fans to remain in the same stadium with reports of an active shooter outside pic.twitter.com/wPm4uaKdRm
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) July 18, 2021
Among the reports from those at the park:
The field has been cleared and some fans are running out the left field concourse toward the exit after what sounded like several gun shots shortly after the top of the 6th ended. Don’t know for sure that’s what it was, but it certainly sounded like it.
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) July 18, 2021
Players, including Fernando Tatis Jr. Just ran into stands and grabbed family members and brought them to clubhouse. pic.twitter.com/DlC1bSv3I7
— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) July 18, 2021
Sound on pic.twitter.com/Pkj4hJludF
— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) July 18, 2021
The concern inside the ballpark was very real, and I feel for these fans:
Frightened Nationals fans took cover at the report of what *sounded like* shots at Nats ballpark. But staff are telling us the incident was outside the stadium, and they’re keeping everyone inside. People hid behind bar, toppled tables to hide. pic.twitter.com/bCAP2V3qyu
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) July 18, 2021
Hope everyone is safe at Nationals park. I heard a few loud bangs and then a mass exodus. View from my roof pic.twitter.com/MA1B7z83u2
— Jalen Drummond (@jalen_drummond) July 18, 2021
UPDATE: The game is being postponed and everyone is leaving. Per the broadcast, the Nationals announced that there was a shooting outside the ballpark, but the situation is under control. Panic, understandably set in as the players and the umpires were racing off the field, which caused fans to seek safety, and it all snowballed from there. Hopefully everyone will be all right.
A shooting has been reported outside of the Third Base Gate at Nationals Park.
Fans are encouraged to exit the ballpark via the CF and RF gates at this time.
We’re working with law enforcement to provide more information as soon as it becomes available.
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 18, 2021