One person is dead and at least nine others were injured after a stampede sparked by reports of gunfire at a GloRilla concert in Rochester, New York, on Sunday night, police said.
Fans were leaving the concert of rapper GloRilla at the Main Street Armory as it ended just after 11 p.m. when they thought they heard gunfire inside the venue, causing the crowd to surge and rush toward the exit, the Rochester Police Department said in a news release.
“We do not have any evidence of gunshots being fired or anyone being shot or stabbed,” the statement said.
Officers outside of the venue made their way inside where they found three women “with significant injuries.”
One of them, a 33-year-old woman, did not survive her injuries, and the two others remain in critical condition “fighting for their lives,” police said.
“As the night went on, an additional seven people arrived at local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries from the event,” police said. “Preliminary reports from people at the scene indicate that these injuries were caused from being trampled.”
It was also not clear why fans thought they had heard gunfire.
Police are continuing to investigate the incident and what caused it, as well as who may have been responsible.
GloRilla, whose real name is Gloria Hallelujah Woods and whose 2022 song “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” with Hitkidd was nominated for a Grammy for best rap performance, said in a tweet just before 12:15 a.m. Monday morning that she was “just now hearing about what happened.”
“Praying everybody is ok,” the artist said.
GloRilla was among a number of artists to perform at the recent Grammy Awards Hip-Hop 50th Anniversary Tribute, which featured a star-studded lineup, including Missy Elliott, Ice-T, Busta Rhymes, Public Enemy, Nelly, Queen Latifah and Run-D.M.C.
Sunday night’s incident is the latest fatal crowd surge to have unfolded at a concert in the U.S. In 2021, a massive crowd rush at a show by rapper Travis Scott left 10 people dead.
The Associated Press contributed.
