Knott’s Berry Farm amusement park closes early after fights, California police say

UPDATE: Knott’s Berry Farm said July 26 that it is extending its new chaperone policy. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, visitors under the age of 18 must be supervised by an adult who is at least 21 years old.

The park said it may also begin to enforce the policy on other days of the week if necessary.

The original story is below.

Fights and false reports of gunfire sent Knott’s Berry Farm visitors rushing for the exits as the amusement park closed three hours early Saturday, July 16, California police reported.

“I saw a whole bunch of people running out and that’s what triggered me and I was like, ‘What’s happening?’” visitor Tina Rodriguez told KABC. “I asked more people and they were like, ‘Oh, there was a possible shooting.’ But I wonder how that could’ve happened with all the metal detectors.”

The Los Angeles-area park said in a statement on Twitter that “unruly behavior and altercations between teenagers” prompted the decision to shut down the park around 8 p.m. It had been scheduled to close at 11 p.m.

“This behavior did not align with our park’s values and was not the experience we want any guest to have while visiting Knott’s Berry Farm,” the statement read. The park planned to reopen on Sunday, July 17.

In a statement on Facebook, Buena Park police said they investigated numerous 911 reports of shots fired in the park but found no gunfire took place.

Three people were injured, firefighters told KTTV.

“What in the world is going on with people?” one person asked on Twitter. “Kids can’t even enjoy a nice day w/ their family at Knott’s Berry Farm w/out it being ruined. This insanity has to stop.”

The 57-acre amusement park began in the 1920s as a boysenberry stand. It now has 40 rides and four million visitors annually.

This story was originally published July 17, 2022 at 8:56 AM with the headline "Knott’s Berry Farm amusement park closes early after fights, California police say."