The Washington Nationals were in the middle of playing the San Diego Padres tonight when shots rang out right outside the stadium near third base.
Hope everyone is safe at Nationals park. I heard a few loud bangs and then a mass exodus. View from my roof pic.twitter.com/MA1B7z83u2
— Jalen Drummond (@jalen_drummond) July 18, 2021
The crowd scrambled to safety, and players jumped in the stands to retrieve family to take them to the clubhouse.
There are reports of an active shooter outside Nationals Park in Washington DC.
You can hear gunshots as the broadcast cuts off pic.twitter.com/kPVC2jJUpD
— Unfiltered Media ™️ (@UnfilteredInd) July 18, 2021
Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado opened up the Padres dugout for fans to seek shelter. Fans could be seen running into the dugout for cover:
Something going on outside @Nationals park causing everyone to freak out in here. pic.twitter.com/obXuaCwMA5
— Justin Beland (@JustinBeland) July 18, 2021
Scary scene at Nationals Park as players run into the stands to bring their family members to the clubhouse after reports of a shooting outside the stadium
(via @sdutKevinAcee)pic.twitter.com/oVKN4zXMSR
— SI MLB (@si_mlb) July 18, 2021
Fans ran onto the field:
Fans could be seen running onto the field and into the dugouts at Nationals Park as the PA announcer tells fans to remain in the same stadium with reports of an active shooter outside pic.twitter.com/wPm4uaKdRm
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) July 18, 2021
A video of fans running below:
Active shooter situation outside @Nationals Park tonight. Thankfully safe, but definitely a scary moment. Thank you @DCPoliceDept for keeping us safe. pic.twitter.com/3Fi0thS1C9
— Jaime A. Varela (@jvarela42) July 18, 2021
Announcements were made over the loudspeaker, and a notice was on the scoreboard:
Fans eventually got to exit the stadium. The game will continue tomorrow.