Two people died and eight were injured in a crash in Rochester, New York, following a concert by the rapper GloRilla. According to the police, the crowd began to surge and push for the exit after possibly hearing gunshots.
Nicholas Adams, a Rochester police lieutenant, told ABC News that there was “no evidence to substantiate a shooting having occurred.”
GloRilla, who had concluded her performance before the occurrence, expressed that she was “devastated and grieved.”
The Memphis musician, whose song F.N.F. (Let’s Go) was nominated for best rap performance at the Grammys last month, stated that she was unaware of the crush until she exited the venue.
GloRilla commented on social media, “My followers mean everything to me” We pray for their families and a swift recovery for all those affected.
Sunday night, police reported that the incident began immediately after the music concluded at the Armory.
“There are unconfirmed allegations that gunfire was heard, prompting the audience to panic,” said David M. Smith, chief of police.
The police department stated in a statement,
“We have received numerous allegations of potential causes, such as crowd size, gunfire, pepper spray, and more.
“According to preliminary reports from witnesses at the site, these injuries were caused by trampling. We have no proof that bullets were fired or that anyone was shot or stabbed.”
The police discovered three severely damaged women in the theater. One, 33-year-old Rhondesia Belton of nearby Buffalo, passed away in the hospital.
“Her family, friends, and colleagues are crushed by this tragic death,” said the mayor of Buffalo, Byron Brown.
Monday evening, Rochester Police reported the death of a second lady, age 35. She was identified as Brandy Miller by U.S. media.
Another woman continues to be in serious condition with severe injuries. Seven additional individuals are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
“You must get up”
Monday, Rochester television station WHEC-TV conducted interviews with fans who returned to reclaim personal items lost during the commotion.
Zara Hayes stated,
“The girl next to me and I were climbing on each other to help each other up.”
“As I watched life flash before my eyes, I still had no idea what was happening.”
She recalled praying and telling herself,
“You have to get up. You must move. If you stay here, they will continue to run you over.”
Anthony Rouse, a security guard, told WHEC-TV that he signed up to work at the performance after learning that his daughter was attending.
According to him, she was injured in the stampede to the exits and spent part of Monday in the hospital. “The sole purpose of my joining was to protect her,” he explained. “I also failed.”
At a news conference, the mayor of Rochester, Malik D. Evans, described the stampede as a “tragic event of epic proportions.”
An investigation has commenced determining if the proprietors of the venue adhered to the required safety measures.
“When you go a performance, you do not anticipate being crushed,” he explained. Your family expects you to be able to return home.
The catastrophe occurred three months after a fatal crush outside an Asake concert at London’s Brixton Academy.
A significant number of individuals attempted to access the arena, resulting in two fatalities and several injuries.
In November 2021, panic broke out at the Astroworld music festival in Houston, Texas, killing ten concertgoers.
Last year, 158 people were murdered in a stampede during Halloween festivities in Seoul, South Korea.
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