Second person dies from trampling at end of GloRilla, FinesseTymes concert
Written by ABC Audio. All rights reserved. on March 7, 2023
A second person has passed away due to the trampling that occurred at the end of a GloRilla concert Sunday, according to the Rochester Police Department. The individual was one of two people who were critically injured in the stampede; the other victim remains in critical condition.
As ABC reports, GloRilla and Finesse2Tymes performed at the Main Street Armory in Rochester, New York, which has a maximum capacity of 5,000. As the show ended, concertgoers heading to the exit began to surge after reportedly hearing some gunshots. Uniformed officers who were surveying the venue made their way inside, discovered three women with significant injuries and attempted to provide lifesaving measures before transporting them to Strong Memorial Hospital. A 33-year-old woman from Buffalo, New York, identified as Rhondesia Belton, was the first to pass away, while the other two were fighting for their lives.
In addition to the three women, seven people were transported to local hospitals via private vehicles and were said to have non-life-threatening injuries. Preliminary reports suggest the injuries appear to be the result of being trampled.
Amid the ongoing investigation, law enforcement officials have discovered the Main Street Armory’s max capacity and that there were eight officers on the scene. The venue is compliant with all fire codes, but has two city code violations for “unapproved activity” for a business operation and an unapproved dwelling unit.
Rochester Police Chief David Smith said he is hoping to “bring accountability to those who are culpable for” Sunday’s tragedy.
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