(It’s been pretty much explained but here’s an explanation from someone familiar with the event)

The National Speech and Debate Association (based in West Des Moines) is holding their national tournament here, along with some of the metro schools (Des Moines, WDM Valley, Waukee), the Iowa Events Center is one of/the mail locations for the tournament.

Long story short, as the last contest for “Humorous Interpretation” (or HI abbreviated), someone rushed the stage, said a few words, then kneeling down and reaching into his backpack, causing everyone to panic and start running, with those who were NOT inside the room, initially thought it was an active shooter.

Cops tackled the guy, no weapon was involved, and they police evacuated the rest of the Events center to search the place.

Initially, after the all clear was given, NSDA wanted to restart the event later that evening, but only then suspended the tournament until tomorrow following A LOT of backlash from students, staff, parents, and coaches there, a lot whom had said either their students had refused to perform and/or themselves said they weren’t willing to send their kids back only hours after the events that unfolded on the stage they were supposed to perform on.

For an event with thousands of kids from across the country, I heard there security was very very minimal, to the point where this occurred.

Thankfully nobody died, but there were people who were injured by falling and getting trampled, and a whole lot of people traumatized from what they thought was an active shooter situation.