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Law enforcement officials conduct training exercise to prepare for All-Star Game in downtown Cleveland

You may have heard gunshots around Progressive Field tonight, here's why.

CLEVELAND — You may have heard gunshots near Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland Wednesday night.

Don't be alarmed. It was part of a training exercise to get security forces ready for next month's Major League Baseball All-Star Game. 

Alison Magee was riding her bike near the ball park when she first heard the gunshots. She says she thought they were fireworks.

"I'm here all the time and I've never heard that before," she said.

Magee says the gunshots were kind of scary, especially because she didn't know it was a law enforcement training.

"It was a little startling...I was impressed I didn't fall off my bike," Magee said. 

Inside of Progressive Field, SWAT officers from the FBI and other local agencies were doing sniper training that involves shooting off live rounds. 

Officials announced on a PA system outside of the ballpark when the exercises would be happening throughout the evening. Indians team personnel and Progressive Field staff were cleared from the building for safety reasons during the exercise. 

Morgan Schroeder and David Krejci heard the gunshots too. They heard it from more than a block away. The two say they had no clue what was going on.

"She looked at me and said 'should I be concerned?' and I said no, it's fine," Krecji said. 

Krecji believed the gunshots were from construction at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse or at Progressive Field for the All-Star game, but is happy isn't wasn't anything serious. 

The 2019 MLB All-Star Game is going to attract thousands of people to downtown Cleveland. Krecji's friend, Morgan, says it's good to know police will be prepared for the large crowds. 

"In 2019, I got to get concerned when a big event happens like [the All-Star Game], but I'm glad they are preparing for it," she said.

The All-Star Game is set for Tuesday, July 9.

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