DALLAS — The State Fair of Texas was evacuated Saturday night after a shooting, police say. State Fair officials also pushed back the fair's Sunday opening to 2 p.m. as a result.
The Dallas Police Department said that three people, two men and a woman, were shot, suffering non-life-threatening injuries.
A suspect, identified as 22-year-old Cameron Turner, was taken into custody by police. As of Sunday morning, police said Turner has been charged with aggravated assault.
According to police, the shooting happened at the food court in Fair Park's Tower Building.
DPD Sr. Cpl. Melinda Gutierrez said police responded to the scene at about 7:45 p.m.
Sources told WFAA that a detective who was investigating the scene spoke to witnesses of the incident who said they saw a male shoot a gun in the food court and then run away from the scene.
Sources also confirm that DPD officials reviewed surveillance video that allegedly showed the suspect shooting one of the victims as the victim approached him at the scene.
Sources tell WFAA that police identified Turner as the only shooter in the footage.
At the scene of the shooting, police later found shell casings and two handguns, sources said.
After he was detained at Fair Park, sources said Turner was taken to Dallas Police Headquarters, where he spoke with detectives after having been read his Miranda Rights. Sources said Turner told police he was in the food court to get a drink when he saw a group of people approaching him, felt threatened and fired his weapon out of self-defense.
Sources told WFAA that Turner claimed to police that he was aiming at the ground when he fired his weapon toward the group approaching him. He then ran out of the food court, sources said, and was only a short distance away when he was detained and handcuffed.
State Fair officials told WFAA on Sunday that Turner did not have a license to carry, which would have allowed him to legally have a concealed handgun on fairgrounds, according to the fair's website. At this time, it's not clear how the gun was allowed into the fair.
Police sources said detectives also spoke to the three victims while they were in the hospital.
According to sources, the victims told detectives that they didn't see anyone shooting at them. One of the victims allegedly said they couldn't remember what happened at the fair, sources said.
Police sources tell WFAA that a possible second suspect was also taken to DPD Headquarters on Saturday night. After interviewing that second person, however, officials determined he was not involved in the shooting, sources said. After taking his handgun into protective custody, he was released, law enforcement sources said.
Dallas District 7 City Councilmember Adam Bazaldua said in a tweet on Saturday night that Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax told him the conflict was sparked between two people who knew each other.
"It’s one thing to have a right to bear arms, it’s another to have legislation, like permit-less carry, that makes it easier for senseless acts of gun violence like this to be carried out in our state," Bazaldua wrote in the tweet. "I wish our Republican friends in Austin would pass meaningful gun legislation to help our constituents feel safe in public."
Dallas Fire-Rescue told WFAA that they took six people in total to local hospital. Three of them were the shooting victims, and the other three were taken for medical issues and non-life-threatening injuries.
A DFR also said dozens of other fairgoers were checked out for injuries. Most of them either didn't need to go to a hospital or decided to drive their own vehicles to a hospital.
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson tweeted about the shooting saying that it was an isolated incident, but behavior like this would not be tolerated.
"The State Fair of Texas is a treasured event — a celebration of food, family, and fun. Although this incident was isolated, I am outraged that anyone would choose to act out violently at the Fair," wrote Mayor Johnson. "I know [Dallas police], which patrols our Fair, will work with [the State Fair of Texas] to ensure the rest of the event is safe for everyone."
In a statement released on social media, State Fair officials said that all shows, attractions, and concerts for Sunday will go on as scheduled. They also asked that attendees remain "Fair Aware" and report anything suspicious to a uniformed police officer or a State Fair Safety Team member.
"Safety is the number one priority of the State Fair of Texas. We are committed to upholding the level of security required to ensure the State Fair of Texas event is a safe and family-friendly environment for all fairgoers, vendors, and employees. We look forward to welcoming guests today (Sunday, 10/15) starting at 2:00 p.m.," officials wrote in their statement.
This is a developing story. Please check back for more updates.