'Shots Fired' Report at JFK May Have Been People Watching Olympics

QUEENS, NY — Terminal 8 at John F. Kennedy International Airport was evacuated Sunday night after authorities received a shots fired report around 9:30 p.m., but the reported gunfire may have just been cheering and clapping noises from people watching the Olympics, according to NBC News.

The shots fired report was near the departures area, but officials say preliminary information indicates no shots were fired at the airport. No injuries were reported, and no evidence of shots being fired, including shell casings or firearms, was recovered from the scene.

Meanwhile, Terminal 1 was closed after an additional shots fired call that came in around 10:15 p.m. Around midnight, NYPD special ops tweeted that all affected terminals had been searched or cleared and operations would resume shortly.

An official told NBC cheering, clapping and banging from people watching the Olympic Games may have been misinterpreted as a fight and gunshots.

The FAA was reporting a ground stoppage at the airport but has since lifted the advisory. The investigation is ongoing.

Dan Archer, who was at the scene at the time of the incident, wrote on Twitter that police at the scene said "it's not safe to stay here." Archer was at Terminal 8.

Brigitte Dusseau, New York Bureau Chief for the AFP, tweeted a photo that showed people ducking for cover.

Return to Patch for updates on this breaking news story.

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