Gunshot Scare Causes Panic At Coney Island

On Sunday, false reports of gunshots set off a panic among hoards of Coney Island visitors, sending revelers running and screaming in all directions.

“Just as we got to the front of the line to buy our tickets we heard screaming and saw hundreds running… I hadn’t heard gunfire nor seen any imminent threat. The only reason we had to run was that other people were running…People were scared. Girls were crying. An NYPD helicopter hovered overhead,” said a BKLYNER reader.

Cops descended on the scene and quickly took to social media to dispell any hysteria:

“All reports of any shooting by the amusement area in Coney Island are false. There were no shots fired or anyone shot,” said 60th Precinct NYPD.

The chaos reportedly sparked with a dispute that involved bottles crashing to the sidewalk near Luna Park. Several people were treated for minor injuries related to the brawl. Though no serious injuries were reported, many revelers left the park on Sunday feeling spooked.

This incident comes two days after a similar panic ensued in Penn Station in Manhattan after the rush hour crowd mistook a police taser for gunshots, sending commuters cowering behind garbage cans and dashing to safety.

Were you at the park this Sunday when the chaos broke out? What did it feel like to be in the crowd? Let us know at editor@bklyner.com or leave your comments below.