DES MOINES, Iowa. (WALB) - Several Valdosta High School students are safe following an incident in Iowa at the 2025 National Speech and Debate Tournament.

Wyoming native Jayden Roccaforte, 22, is in custody after he caused an evacuation at the National Speech and Debate Tournament in Des Moines, according to police. Police said Roccaforte entered the stage area during the event.

“Everyone started running, and it was like you would see in a movie,” a judge at the event told our sister station, KCRG. “Everyone’s trampling over each other. Everyone’s running for the doors. People were falling over. At one point, I dropped my phone, and instantly I was like, ‘forget my phone,’ kept going, fell over again.”

Roccaforte is charged with disorderly conduct and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.

No one was hurt in the incident, and no weapons were found, police said.

Ten Valdosta High School (VHS) students and four chaperones were at the event. VHS said the group will be back in South Georgia by this weekend.

VHS made a post about this incident on their Facebook page.

“We are grateful to report that all Valdosta High School students and chaperones are safe and accounted for. We appreciate the quick response of local authorities and the tournament organizers in ensuring the safety of all participants.”

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