A person interrupted the national speech and debate tournament in Des Moines, Iowa, by walking on stage on Thursday, sending competitors and audience members scrambling for the exit.
Parsons had 10 students at the national tournament, but they had completed their events for the week and were in the audience watching other students compete when the interruption happened, according to USD 503 Superintendent Lori Perkins. The students are unharmed, but shaken up.
Perkins said Labette Center for Mental Health Services would have counselors available at the high school this week to assist students if needed. Dates and times were not available by press time.
The National Speech and Debate Association posted on its website that 6,700 students representing 1,500 schools attended the weeklong tournament.
News coverage from Des Moines, which included student video, shows the 22-year-old Wyoming man walking on stage, saying something, turning around and crouching with his back to the audience. He was carrying a backpack and what appeared to be a towel or T-shirt. A competitor who was supposed to be on stage at the time told people to run away, which prompted the evacuation.
Police arrested the Wyoming man for disorderly conduct and possession of narcotics. Jayden Roccaforte was a speech and debate competitor in high school and a national champion. He competed this year for the Western Kentucky University forensics team.
