Stampede During July 4 Fireworks In Jersey City Sent Woman And Officer To Hospital: Police

JERSEY CITY, NJ — An annual fireworks celebration in Jersey City turned dangerous on Friday when people suddenly began running in a panic, police said. The stampede — caused by unfounded rumors of a shooting, police explained this week — sent one officer and a woman to the hospital, they said. READ MORE: Chaos, Stampede Ensues At Jersey City Fireworks Celebration

According to city police spokeswoman Kim Wallace-Scalcione, just after 9:30 p.m. on Friday, police stationed at Exchange Place — the waterfront business district where the annual celebration is held — noticed that "While the fireworks show was underway, a large portion of the crowd suddenly began panicking and running away from the walkway."

Police in the area of the Colgate Clock and Goldman Sachs building were told by some of those running away that there had been a shooting.

"The JCPD officers immediately ran into the area in question and found no evidence of a shooting or any crime scene," Wallace-Scalcione said. "From the officers’ observations of the remaining crowd size, it appeared that whatever caused the crowd to panic happened directly on the waterfront walkway in front of their location."

Jersey City's Emergency Services Unit and other law enforcement agencies conducted "a full sweep of the waterfront area," she said, but found no threat to public safety.

An adult female fell while running and suffered a leg injury that was not life-threatening, Wallace-Scalcione said. She was evaluated and taken to the local hospital for further treatment.

A police officer injured his right knee while running to the area, she said. He was also taken to the hospital for further evaluation and treatment.

The stampede occurred within minutes of the start of the fireworks show.

Witnesses at the event said that parents with small children were panicking, as well as seniors who had trouble getting away.

The site HudPost posted a limited video of the incident and said that a "prank scream" during the fireworks caused the fleeing, and that police with tactical gear arrived quickly.

Wallace-Scalcione did not respond to a question of whether a scream or prank caused the stampede, sharing only the above details from the report.