A falling ceiling tile and a simultaneous medical emergency are now believed to be the cause behind an evacuation at the Kentucky Exposition Center July 13, Louisville Metro Police officials said in a statement.
Emergency calls were made to area first responders when several visitors believed an “active aggressor” was on the property and sounds similar to gunshots were heard. Investigators later determined no shots had been fired on the property.
“We believe a ceiling tile fell and hit a metal chair causing a loud noise,” LMPD spokesperson Matthew Sanders said in a statement July 14. “Coincidentally, a woman was having a medical emergency. We believe those two incidents caused the mass panic.”
Alarms sounded inside the Expo Center, prompting attendees of the Run 4 The Roses girls basketball tournament to exit the facility. A duct smoke sensor triggered the indoor alerts, Expo Center officials said in a July 14 statement.
“Our system review is ongoing, but we wanted to confirm that the fire system is not utilized for alert purposes beyond smoke detection,” the statement read. “The fire system is routinely inspected and complies with the State Fire Marshal’s Office and (National Fire Protection Association) life safety standards.”
Some evacuees sustained “minor injuries” while they were attempting to leave the facility, LMPD officials previously stated.
Run 4 The Roses games resumed July 14 with new security measures in place after play was suspended the previous day. Upon arrival, players, coaches and spectators will be screened by security officers using handheld metal detectors and bag checks will also be conducted.
The tournament is planned to continue through July 15.
LMPD’s Homeland Security unit continues to investigate the incident jointly with Expo Center officials, Sanders said.
More: LMPD reports no shots fired at Expo Center following ‘active aggressor’ investigation
Reach reporter Leo Bertucci at lbertucci@gannett.com or @leober2chee on X, formerly known as Twitter
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Run 4 The Roses 2025: No shots fired, panic caused by falling tile
