Photo Credit: Live Nation
Several injuries were reported at the Lovers & Friends festival in Las Vegas following a panic over rumored gunshots.
At least three individuals were transported to local hospitals with trample injuries. The crowd panicked after a rumor of gunshots caused some to attempt to flee the crowds. On social media, someone posted a picture of a screen that was shown at the festival to attendees.
“ATTENTION: We have a security incident at the festival. Authorities are investigating. Remain where you are and watch this space for further updates,” the announcement read, visible to attendees on a giant screen on the stage.
According to Las Vegas police, “Shortly after 10 pm, gunfire was reportedly heard near the site of the Lovers & friends Festival, causing a large group of attendees to exit the venue. At this time, there is no evidence of a shooting and the initial report has been deemed unfounded. Three people were transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. The show resumed.”
The Lovers & Friends Festival was briefly halted while authorities investigated the claims. The show was headlined by Usher, Ludacris, Lil John, Lauryn Hill, TLC, Ciara, and Nelly. Live Nation, Snoop Dogg, and Bobby Dee organized the two-day festival. The second day of the festival went off as planned on Sunday.
Many people took to social media on Saturday night to complain about the festival. Documented complaints from attendees about the organizers’ “inability to provide adequate resources for those who attended the show in the desert as the temperatures approached 100 degrees.” Fans were upset at the lack of water available and the lack of respite from the sun.
“You provide no shade except to VIP, you run out of water, mass hysteria breaks out and you continue liek you don’t have explaining to do!” one concert attendee tweeted at the festival’s social media presence.
“Whoever planned the Lovers & Friends Festival should never be allowed to plan another event in their life. Ran out of water five hours before the festival was supposed to end, then y’all thought it was a good idea to shoot off fireworks after a shooting scare?” another tweeted.