Fireworks spook horses at South Carolina rodeo, injuring several people

Fireworks spooked horses at a rodeo in Gaston, South Carolina, and the animals ran into the crowd, trampled spectators and left at least six people taken from the scene for treatment. Police said the chaos erupted Saturday night at 491 South Main Street, where about 1,400 people were gathered.

Gaston Police Chief Stephen Watkins said the response quickly drew in Gaston police, Lexington County Emergency Services and Lexington County Fire Service. As crews worked to help the injured, Watkins said the crowd became agitated and some people began throwing beer cans and other objects at first responders and officers, forcing authorities to shut down the event.

Police said eight people were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. The scene, already unsettled by the stampede, turned harder to control as emergency crews tried to reach the injured and clear the area.

Authorities are now reviewing the event permit and possible violations, a sign that the investigation is shifting from the immediate injuries to how the rodeo was managed in the first place. The owner of Rancho El Edén did not respond to a request for comment. Police said the inquiry remains open as officials examine what safety planning was in place, whether fireworks were allowed near the animals and how the venue handled the emergency once the horses bolted.

One family member who spoke about the night said a relative needed more than 20 stitches after being hurt in the incident, underscoring how quickly a packed entertainment event can turn into a public-safety emergency. With multiple agencies responding and several people injured, the case now raises a central question for Lexington County: whether this was an unpredictable accident or a preventable failure in crowd and animal safety planning.