A GloRilla concert in Rochester ended in tragedy when one person died and nine more were injured in a crowd stampede (Picture: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
One person was killed and nine were injured when false reports of a shooting sent crowds into a stampede at a concert in upstate New York.
A concert headlined by popular Memphis rapper GloRilla on Sunday night ended in tragedy when the crowd rushed the building’s exits, crushing multiple people in a stampede.
The fatal incident happened at the Main Street Armory, a large concert venue in the northern New York city of Rochester.
As the concert ended around 11pm, police were called to the venue following a report of shots fired. However, Rochester Police Chief Dave Smith later said the reports of gunshot had not been confirmed.
The Main Street Armory in Rochester the morning after the fatal stampede (Picture: AP)
Debris covers the main entranceway to the Main Street Armory the morning after the GloRilla show (Picture: AP)
‘We do not have any evidence of gunshots being fired, or of anyone being shot or stabbed at the scene,’ he said.
Smith said that responding officers were able to eventually make their way inside the Armory, where they found ‘three females with significant injuries.’
The victims were transported to Strong Hospital in Rochester, where one victim, a 33-year-old woman who has not yet been identified, was pronounced dead.
Two more of the injured victims are still in critical condition and ‘fighting for their lives,’ the police chief said. Seven more people were transported to the hospital from the concert venue, where they were treated for not life-threatening injuries.
A ticket stub for the GloRilla show in Rochester found on the ground outside the venue (Picture: AP)
A flyer for the GloRilla concert hangs on a post outside of the Main Street Armory (Credits: AP)
‘This is a tragedy of epic proportions, and it is something that all of us who love concerts worry about,’ Rochester Mayor Malik Evans said. ‘What I saw last night, in the aftermath of what happened at this concert breaks my heart and is totally unacceptable.’
Both Mayor Evans and Chief Smith asked concertgoers to submit photos or videos from the show. Investigators are currently working to piece together and recreate the events leading up to the stampede, Smith said.
‘We are hearing many reports of potential causes, including possibly crowd size, shots fired, pepper spray, and other contributing factors,’ the police chief said.
The mayor and police chief both promised to hold those found responsible accountable for the tragedy.
GloRilla, who was born Gloria Hallelujah Woods, was recently nominated for a Grammy for her song ‘FNF (Let’s Go)’ for Best Rap Performance. She also won the award for Best Breakthrough Artist at the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards.
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False reports of a shooting sent crowds into a stampede at a concert in upstate New York.