Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka was at Barclays Center in Brooklyn for a boxing match and she went through a frightening moment when people started yelling there was an active shooter in the arena. “I was just in the Barclays Center and suddenly I heard shouting and saw people running, then we were being yelled at that there was an active shooter and we had to huddle in a room and close the doors, I was so f—— petrified man.
I really hope everyone made it out safely, since I’m tweeting this we made it out ok,” Osaka tweeted.
I was just in the Barclays center and suddenly I heard shouting and saw people running, then we were being yelled at that there was an active shooter and we had to huddle in a room and close the doors, I was so fucking petrified man.
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 29, 2022
I really hope everyone made it out safely, since I’m tweeting this we made it out ok. — NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 29, 2022
Osaka made it out OK
ESPN boxing insider Mike Coppinger reported that there was a person with a gun in the main plaza and that led to the crowd getting frightened and rushing back into the arena.
“A Barclays Center security supervisor told ESPN there was a person with a gun in the main plaza that led to a stampede back into the arena. Multiple people transported to hospital. Official estimated approximately a dozen injuries.
Among them: a concussion and an elbow injury,” Coppinger responded to Osaka’s tweet.
A Barclays Center security supervisor told ESPN there was a person with a gun in the main plaza that led to a stampede back into the arena.
Multiple people transported to hospital. Official estimated approximately a dozen injuries. Among them: a concussion and an elbow injury. https://t.co/LPfMO5qPzT — Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) May 29, 2022
Also, Coppinger reported the New York Police Department were looking into the possibility of a possible shooting.
An NYPD detective told ESPN they were looking into the possibility there was a shooting. — Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) May 29, 2022
It was a frightening moment for Osaka, who finished her clay season this week following a first round defeat at the French Open.
Next up is the grass season but it is unclear if Osaka will play Wimbledon. “I would say the decision is kind of affecting my mentality going into grass, like I’m not 100 percent sure if I’m going to go there,” Osaka said this week.
“I would love to go just to get some experience on the grass court, but like at the same time, for me, it’s kind of like – I don’t want to say pointless, no pun intended, but I’m the type of player that gets motivated by… seeing my ranking go up”.