New Jersey State Police used tear gas to disperse the Hot 97 Summer Jam.
It supposedly started with crowds at the Hot 97 Summer Jam concert became upset when the gates were closed and blocked off by police in riot gear. People tried to “illegally” force their way into the sold out event by climbing over fences and forcing their way through security, state police said in a statement Sunday night. Police said they insisted that everyone outside of the gate leave the stadium complex to avoid congestion when the concert ended.
An armored state police vehicle began blasting a piercing loud noise to try to disperse the crowd and police later deployed tear gas.
Additional troops were sent for “crowd control” and arrests have been made, a police spokesman, Sgt. Gregory Williams, told The Associated Press. State police didn’t release details about what measures they used to disperse the crowd.
Videos and photos posted by people outside of the stadium on social media showed fights between concert goers and police in riot gear blocking the entrance. Images also showed police using large military-style vehicles to try to disperse the crowds.
Emmis New York, which owns Hot 97, said in a statement that refunds will be offered for ticket holders whose tickets were not scanned. They said the concert sold out Sunday evening and that “a small number of people created an unsafe environment, and for the safety of all guests, the New Jersey State Police were on scene to disperse the crowd.” The gates to get inside were then closed and no one else was allowed in.
No word yet on injuries.
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