(Cupventi.com) – A weekend Halloween event at Kings Dominion theme park in Virginia descended into “mass chaos” after a brawl involving young adults, with up to 300 people gathered around and encouraging the disorder, according to the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office. The incident is the latest in a series of violent events, following a recent stabbing at Busch Gardens and fights involving juveniles at a county fair.
Sgt. Steve Wills, who responded to the scene, described the situation as part of a troubling pattern of behavior among young people. “It seems to be this social norm now for this younger generation to just cause chaos,” Wills told Fox News Digital. The brawl erupted inside the park’s arcade on Saturday night. A deputy on-site immediately requested backup, estimating the crowd to be around 300 people, with only a handful actively fighting.
Wills explained that the situation spiraled out of control as onlookers made it difficult for authorities to intervene. “We had a handful of people fighting surrounded by hundreds of people… being disorderly, being difficult for us to get through the crowd,” Wills said. After law enforcement started to clear the area, someone shouted, “Gun!” which further escalated the chaos. People rushed back into the arcade, causing widespread panic as officers tried to restore order and investigate the gun scare.
Despite the turmoil, no arrests have been made as of Tuesday. The park, located near Richmond, Virginia, required a response from 14 deputies to manage the incident. Wills expressed frustration over the behavior, calling for parents and society to take a more active role in instilling respect and values in younger generations. “We have got to do a better job of controlling our kids’ behavior and instilling good values in them so when they are not in our presence, they don’t behave like this,” he stated.
Kings Dominion addressed the incident, stating it occurred after park rides and attractions were temporarily shut down due to bad weather. The park’s security team quickly halted the “minor physical altercation,” and those involved were banned from the premises. “At no point were any weapons used or found to be inside the park,” a spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
The Halloween Haunt event at Kings Dominion, where the chaos unfolded, is described on the park’s website as a “screaming good time,” with haunted houses and scare zones aimed at providing visitors with thrilling, spine-chilling experiences.