‘Popping sound’ sparks false active shooter report

ORLANDO, Fla. —

A fight at Magic Kingdom Park in Orlando caused chaos and led to rumors of an active shooter on Thursday.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that there was no active shooter, and added that no shots were fired at all. In a social media post addressing the rumors, deputies say a balloon was most likely responsible for the sound.

According to an incident report obtained by WESH 2, deputies responded to the main entrance of Magic Kingdom just after 10 p.m. in regards to multiple reports of an “active shooter.”

OCSO says they received multiple calls from separate locations in the park, all with “ambiguous information” regarding the alleged armed assailant. Callers complained that “something is going on,” “people are running,” and “there is a shooter,” the report says.

Because the calls came from so many locations and no weapon could be confirmed, deputies say patrons remained in safeguard locations around the park until being escorted out by park security.

Upon further investigation, OCSO said they observed no obvious signs of distress, injuries, witnesses, bullet fragmentations or shell casings.

“Throughout interacting with passerby’s as the park was closed, it was observed by deputies that the ‘shots’ were balloons being popped,” the report says.

At the same time, OCSO says a physical altercation was happening near the monorail area. According to deputies, this caused guests to begin “mobbing back into the park.”

“The simultaneous and happenstance ‘popping’ of balloons possibly caused the ensuing allegations of ‘shots’ near the Main Street area of the park entrance,” the report says.

Deputies were able to make contact with one of the 911 callers, who said she was with her mother when they heard three loud bangs. According to the caller, a cast member then told everyone to “get down.”

Visitors in the park shared videos across social media showing the chaos prompted by the fight. One video shows people hiding behind displays, a store’s floor littered with merchandise and a even a stroller that was left behind.

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OCSO has only reported one injury during this incident, which was one of the people involved in the original fight by the monorail. According to OCSO, they asked to be transported to the hospital.

Deputies also add that no arrests were made in relation to the fight as both sides declined to prosecute.

“We appreciate the immediate response of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office to quickly assess and clear the situation,” Disney said in a statement to WESH 2. “Normal operations have resumed.”