on Sunday evening Thousands of music fans flocked to Rochester, New York’s Main Street Armory, for a concert led by GloRilla, one of hip-hop’s fastest growing stars. One of them is Tamira De Jesus, 28, who has heard mixed reviews about the venue in the past. Claims that suggest it should have been shut down long ago. And the more terrible accusation is a death trap. But when entering that place Her experience initially contradicted rumors that often surfaced in the local live music community.
After the show ended around 11pm, and the bustling audience only made their way to the exit, De Jesus understood why the venue had a reputation. “I saw nothing but the whole crowd pushing everyone to the bathroom like a wave pool,” she said. rolling stoneIt recalled that many doors were blocked by security and police after rumors of a brawl outside the venue. The crowd erupted into hysteria.
on monday The Rochester Police Department reported that a large crowd believed to be the result of unfounded mass shooting at the venue. The chaotic incident left two women – Brandy Miller, 35, and Rondesia Belton, 33 – dead, with the other hospitalized in critical condition. Seven others were injured. Police Chief David M. Smith said there was no evidence. that supports claims of shootings The investigation identified several possible causes, including “possible crowd sizes, gunfire, pepper spray, and other factors with contributing support” continues
“I was literally suffocating trying to get the people on the ground up. I was terrified and all I could think was that they had to let the crowd out into the streets. Because they wouldn’t stop,” De Jesus said. I heard a man say ‘Damn it, step on it’, it was the most inhumane thing I’ve seen in my entire life. And I still have my anxiety.”
Despite eight Rochester police officers stationed outside, “the venue was not prepared to handle an event of this magnitude,” de Jesus said. Direction and communication from the venue staff proved to be a dangerous combination. As thousands of corpses huddle together to find a way out.
Online reviews for locations often mention lack of proper safety practices at the door and inside the premises. “An officer from the armory pushed us back into the armory. But we shout that they can’t do that. Because everyone behind them wouldn’t stop pushing,” De Jesus recalls. “They tried to keep the crowd in a place where no one could hear them. Rather than trying to keep crowds[leaving]crowded together and having no regard for or feeling of community at all.”
The representative of the place did not respond. rolling stoneask for opinions It was unclear which of the three security companies the facility was employed that night. But company representatives — Brown Brothers Security, Blackhawk Training Academy and Enterprise Security Consulting and Training — did not respond. rolling stoneask for opinions
A number of patrons try to help each other. Link your arms with others to balance and advance to safety together. “I can’t step on anyone. I literally saved two lives,” wrote one participant, Bennie Redfield, on Facebook. “I pulled them off the ground while trying to control the crowd around me. One woman gave me the biggest hug and thanked me for saving her from the crowd that stepped on her.”
Still, only a large number of individuals can do it while trying to manage the chaos caused by failures in security and management. “There was a lifeless girl. I couldn’t help her because she didn’t move. And I was too scared to touch her,” Redfield wrote, adding that “Last night was heartbreaking. I just always see people being trampled on.”
Another Facebook user, using a pseudonym, described being among the crowd. “I feel air coming out of my lungs. My whole body hurts Shouting for help and having people step on you and climb over you is terrifying,” she wrote. “I keep thinking about my children and I don’t want them growing up without me.” Those 2 had a friend’s mother named Belton. survived by a young son
De Jesus estimates that she stays in the spotlight for no more than 15 minutes, though “it feels like forever” when she steps outside. She was easily washed away. But it’s creepy. “The moment of relief was as soon as I went up the stairs and saw people just standing there watching as if nothing had happened. And they don’t see us being pushed back into a place with no exit and nowhere to run,” she said.
“This is a huge tragedy,” Rochester Mayor Malik Evans said at a news conference on Monday. “It’s what all of us who love concerts worry about. When you go to a concert, don’t expect to be trampled on. Your loved ones expect you to come home and talk about the experience you had at that great concert.”
