Incident
Case, Scandal
noun
An occurrence of some matter is really just something that happens. It's an incident or case.
事件 often refers to significant or serious occurrences like crime cases or accidents. It can also be used playfully — "There was a 事件 at the party!" — to dramatize an event like someone asking out your classmate.
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on'yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you'll know how to read this as well.
会社に向かっていると、ある事件が起こった。
There was an incident on my way to work.
５年前、この町の銀行からお金が消える事件があったんです。
Five years ago, there was a case where money went missing from a bank in this town.
昨日のテロ事件のニュース見た？
Did you see the news about yesterday's terrorist attack?