Four people were shot outside of Nationals Park in Washington on Saturday night during a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the San Diego Padres, the police said, prompting fans to pour out of the stands and players to scramble relatives to safety in a scene of fear and confusion.
The police said they were investigating the shooting and that there appeared to be no ongoing threat. The Nationals said in a statement on Twitter that fans were encouraged to leave the ballpark through the center field and right field gates.
The game was halted in the middle of the sixth inning, with the Padres leading, 8-4. Team officials said the game would resume on Sunday afternoon, and the teams would play their regularly scheduled game afterward on Sunday.
“A shooting has been reported outside of the Third Base Gate at Nationals Park,” the Nationals said.
“We’re working with law enforcement to provide more information as soon as it becomes available,” the team said.
Fans at the game heard what sounded like gunshots between innings, coming from the third base side of the stadium. Many were initially confused, and the players left the field. Many fans started trying to leave.
An announcement on the stadium loudspeaker said: “Please remain calm and remain inside the stadium.”
When fans were allowed to leave, crowds poured out of the stadium.
The metro platform at the Navy Yard station was crowded with fans, as it typically is after a game, but the crowd was quieter than usual, with many people sharing their recollections of what they had heard.
The transit police urged fans to spread out along the length of the platform to board coming trains.
Amy Fiscus and David Waldstein contributed reporting.