State Fair of Texas shooter wasn't licensed to carry a gun
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More than 2 million people visit the fair each year. Photo: Ron Jenkins for the Washington Post
The State Fair of Texas is reassessing its security protocols after a shooting there on Saturday.
Catch up fast: Tens of thousands of people were at the fair that night when a man shot at another man during a dispute in the Tower Building, injuring three people, according to police.
- The suspect fled, but police found and arrested him. The fairgrounds were evacuated.
- Police charged 22-year-old Cameron Turner with three counts of aggravated assault. He told police that "a group of big males" approached him and he "went into defensive mode" to protect his family when he started shooting, per WFAA.
What's new: Turner was not licensed to carry a gun, according to Jeff Cotner, a retired deputy Dallas police chief who oversees the fair's security.
- "We're certainly disappointed that these two individuals (who were arguing) chose to act this way within a state fair. A state fair is where people come together, not apart," Cotner tells Axios.
- The fair is investigating how Turner was able to bring a gun inside. "We're exploring every camera angle we can," Cotner says.
The intrigue: The fair allows visitors with a valid handgun license to bring a gun, though Cotner says only a small percentage of fairgoers actually bring one.
- People who want to bring a gun to the fair have to show a police officer their handgun credentials. They must also keep their handgun concealed while on fairgrounds.
Zoom out: The Minnesota State Fair, the country's second-largest behind the State Fair of Texas, doesn't allow visitors to bring a gun, though state law allows open carry if the owner has a valid permit.
- At the Minnesota Fair last year, someone was able to get a gun past security and shoot a person during a brawl, causing mass panic.
- The fair has since revamped its security measures to include extra patrols, barricades and cameras.
Threat level: People who were at Fair Park on Saturday night described chaotic moments after the shooting, saying there wasn't enough direction from workers about what to do.
- "I will never go back to the Texas State Fair again, in life," Destene Sudduth said on TikTok.
Context: This year, the fair started using an Opengate system designed to detect weapons on people walking through security screening without making them set aside their bag or phone.
- The technology is used at schools, stadiums and events such as the Super Bowl and Indy 500, though some safety experts have warned of its limitations.
What's next: A fair spokesperson said there are no plans to make policy changes at this time.
- Cotner tells Axios that the fair has conducted a "top to bottom" review of its security protocols since Saturday to identify what else can be done to improve screening stations.
- "Even though we've done this review, we're not done. There are always things we can do to improve security. We're going to give these a really critical look," Cotner says.
Meanwhile: People were back in hordes on Sunday, even though the fair opened four hours late because of the shooting investigation. The fair ends this weekend.