GAINESVILLE, FL (352today.com) – A candlelight vigil in support of Israel on the University of Florida (UF) campus Monday night turned chaotic and ended with a few people injured when the crowd suddenly stampeded.

UFPD says they quickly cleared the scene and that five people suffered minor injuries in the crowd rush.

They say the injured were treated on the scene by the Gainesville Fire Rescue Department and Gator Emergency Medical Response Unit which were pre-staged for the event.

Photos and videos posted on social media show a large crowd gathered in Turlington Plaza on the UF campus.

One video posted by Matt V. Gold shows the panic unfold in seconds as students including Gold take off running.

What happened?
The University of Florida Police Department (UFPD) says just before 9 p.m. someone in attendance fainted which led to others calling 911. “The call was misunderstood by the crowd, which dispersed in a panic,” said UFPD in a news release on Monday night.

The social media rumor mill fueled emotions and confusion as some posted that gunshots were fired. Others speculated firecrackers were set off. A parent commented they heard a car ran through the crowd causing students to run for their lives.

The two campus Jewish groups that organized the event – UF Hillel and Chabad UF, the Jewish Student and Community Center – tried to quickly ease fears of students and their parents by posting messages that everyone was safe and issuing a joint statement on Facebook. It stated a loud noise prompted the panic and that they felt certain the incident was a misunderstanding.

The two groups had organized the gathering to show “support of Israel, remember the victims whose lives have been lost to terror, and pray for peace.”

“We have no reason to believe there was malicious intent behind this incident,” said UF Police Chief Linda Stump-Kurnick. “It was an accident that was misinterpreted by the crowd that led to panic.”

Shoes, water bottles and other personal items littered Turlington Plaza in the aftermath of the incident. UFPD escorted students back to the scene to retrieve their belongings. They stated anyone who wasn’t able to reclaim their belongings Monday night would be able to do so at the UF Public Safety Building on Tuesday.