State Police determined that there was no evidence of a shooting at the New York State Fair on September 1st. The Fair closed early that night after reports of a chaotic scene at the Syracuse fairgrounds.
Investigators reviewed all reports, searched hours of surveillance video, interviewed over 31 witnesses, and conducted a complete grid search, which included State Police K9. Troopers say at this time, there is no indication that any shooting took place.
State Fair Director Julie LaFave released this statement following the conclusion of the State Police investigation:
“The Great New York State Fair wants to reassure our fairgoers, vendors, and the public that we have strong measures and partnerships in place to ensure a safe and secure venue during The Fair and throughout the year.
“The State Fair places the highest priority on safeguarding fairgoers and maintaining a family-friendly atmosphere. We take the events that occurred on September 1 extremely seriously, and while they are deeply concerning, we are grateful that the situation was handled by the State Police, in coordination with the State Fair, swiftly and with the utmost regard for the safety of all fairgoers on the grounds. We are also appreciative of the work of State Fair staff and the many partner agencies involved in emergency planning for The Fair, who implemented all protocols exactly as they trained for.
“Over the years, The State Fair has made significant investments in upgrading safety and security infrastructure on the grounds, including installing advanced, highly sensitive magnetometers and metal detection devices at all public points of entry; high-resolution cameras throughout the Fairgrounds; drone technology; and public address capabilities. The Fair maintains a robust Emergency Action Plan and hosts a Joint Operations Center, which operates continuously during The Fair, where partner agencies trained in emergency management maintain an on-site physical presence, continually monitor all activities throughout the Fairgrounds, and can quickly communicate with one another and respond to threats and concerns.
“The State Fair will continue to evaluate its emergency procedures and remains committed to doing everything possible to ensure the security and well-being of our visitors.”
In a separate statement, State Police said they appreciated the cooperation of all the fairgoers and staff interviewed during the investigation.
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