The crowd at this year's Lil WeezyAna Fest took off into a stampede at least two times during Meek Mill's set. The incidents left multiple people injured, according to the Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate.
Police tell the publication that they aren't sure what triggered the stampedes, but there is a possibility that a fight and/or gunfire was the catalyst. Festivalgoers destroyed surroundings in an attempt to flee the disturbance. Medical tents and concession stands were flattened while fences were pushed over to create makeshift exits.
Some used the ruckus as a chance to commit thievery. According to concessions employees, cash registers and tip jars were raided as they fled for safety. Personal items and money also came up missing and some attendees decided to pour themselves drinks or take bottles of liquor the unaccompanied stands. During the scramble, at least one person lost consciousness while others suffered minor scrapes and bruises.
"My brother said to me and my cousin, 'Run. Just run. I don’t know what’s happening,'" attendee Melanie Melasky said. "I turned around at one point to see what was happening, but everyone was running away. No cops were going toward [the origin of the stampede]."
"I didn't know what was going on," George Krider, whose beverage company was catering the festival, added. "It was a stampede. The first thing you think is, 'Was it gunshots?' I think it was a fight."
The show continued without any more issues after the flare-up. People were looking for items that were stolen or lost during the stampede long after the concert ended.
