Two women have died and nine others were injured after a stampede broke out at a concert Sunday in Rochester, New York.
The stampede happened after concertgoers thought they heard the sounds of gunshots just after 11 p.m. and rushed to get out of the Main Street Armory theater, where GloRilla and Finesse2Tymes were performing, according to reports.
Rochester police said there’s no evidence a gun was ever fired or anyone was shot or stabbed.
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Emergency responders rushed three people to Strong Memorial Hospital in an ambulance. Two women, 33 and 35, died as a result of their injuries, police said. One victim remains in critical condition “fighting for their lives,” police earlier said.
The 33-year-old woman was identified Monday as Buffalo resident Rhondesia Belton, according to WHEC.
One tribute on social media read: “Last night I lost someone very close to my heart... @the concert in Rochester I’m so lost I can’t breathe she  meant that much to me life will never be the same for me Rest up Queen ILOVE YOU RHONDESIA.”
GloRilla sent out a message just after midnight upon hearing about the stampede.
“I’m just now hearing about what happened wtf praying everybody is ok,” she tweeted.
Other concertgoers on social media suggested that the Armory could have been over its 5,000-person capacity.
Police said Monday that they are investigating “what led to this tragedy,” including whether the venue had gone over its maximum capacity.
Rochester Mayor Malik Evans, who visited the scene early Monday morning, said at a news conference that the situation both “breaks my heart and is totally unacceptable.”
“This is a tragedy of epic proportions,” Evans said, according to the Democrat & Chronicle. “It’s something that all of us who love concerts worry about... When you go to a concert, you do not expect to be trampled. Your loved ones expect you to be able to come home and talk about the experience you had at that great concert.”
Rochester Police Chief David Smith said officials would “bring accountability to those who are culpable for last night’s tragedy.”
WROC-TV reporter Alec Richardson said witnesses described the horror stampede to him.
“Major emergency response at the Main St. Armory after a concert,” he tweeted. “Had witnesses telling me at least three women were trampled as concertgoers left the venue. I also saw a firefighter performing cpr presumably on a victim on scene.”
A performance at the venue by rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie scheduled for Saturday has been canceled. Rochester city officials said in a statement that they will meet with Main St. armory owner Scott Donaldson later this week “to discuss the path forward ... as an entertainment venue.”
The Daily Beast has reached out to Rochester police for comment.
