LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It was an incident that went viral Saturday night – rumors of an active shooter at the Kentucky State Fair that turned out to be false.
However, Kentucky State Police say they are investigating a separate incident after a juvenile fired a single gunshot into the air. No injuries were reported.
Officials with Kentucky State Police released a statement Sunday afternoon detailing the incident.
They say they experienced a “heightened level of activity” at the fairgrounds when large groups of juveniles “were congregating and setting off firecrackers in different locations.”
That’s when several individuals reported that there may have been a “shooter” at that location.
The incident caused a short panic and led to many calls to the WHAS11 Newsroom from concerned fair-goers.
Police stress there was no active shooter at the fairgrounds and say there are no perceived threats to the public or those attending the Kentucky State Fair.
But although there was no active shooter, many people started to realize there was more happening right where they were standing.
Graphic videos circling the internet showing aggressive, physical exchanges between police and kids Saturday night at the Kentucky State Fair.
"It was really just the kids reacting to the officers actions. Some teenagers were angry and some teenagers were more scared," said Anthony Knott, one of the witnesses who captures moments on camera.
Adric Kenzer is a 17 year old who was feeling both of those things.
"I'm standing there like one of the other fifty bystanders so I'm just standing there and watching and he pushes one of them," he explains that was just moments before an officer asked him a question. "Do I want to fight? And then I turned around because I wasn't going to entertain it so I turned around and I was ready to walk away and as soon as I looked back, I get hit right in the jaw."
Kenzer's mother Stephanie says she spent much of the day gathering the full story. Watching every video she could find to begin putting pieces of the puzzle together. She explains she plans to go to police on Monday.
"In person it was so hectic. It felt like a movie. Like when I got home I thought it was a dream. He didn't have to yell at nobody, he didn't have to cuss at nobody he could have just asked them to move, it was as simple as that," Kenzer said.
Many who were at the fair, along with hundreds of thousands on the internet left with questions.
"When did it become right or legal for officers to put their hands on kids?" Knott questioned.
"I'm just in shock. If y'all are support to protect us why are you over here beating me for no reason," Kenzer said.
The Kentucky State Fair opened on Thursday and runs through Aug. 25.
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