No criminal charges will be brought over the fatal crowd crush at the Main Street Armory concert venue in Rochester, New York earlier this year.

Three women lost their lives in the incident, which took place following a show by rapper GloRilla on 5 March when concertgoers began running towards the exits, rumoured to have been sparked by unfounded reports of gunshots.

Aisha Stephens, 35, of Syracuse, Rhondesia Belton, 33, and 35-year-old Brandy Miller all died in the tragedy, while seven people required hospital treatment for non-life threatening injuries.

However, a “comprehensive, multi-departmental investigation” into the stampede by the City of Rochester has concluded there is no basis for criminal charges.

“The city’s law department, police and fire departments, department of neighbourhood and business development and code enforcement teams conducted an extensive investigation over several weeks,” reads a statement from the authority. “The teams completed numerous interviews and comprehensive inspections, and compiled the information for consideration by the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office.

“Based on the information and evidence, both the RPD and DA’s Office determined that there is no basis for criminal charges in this case.”

The city is reviewing its entertainment licensing procedures to “identify and implement additional conditions that would increase safety and security

Nonetheless, the city says it is reviewing its entertainment licensing procedures to “identify and implement additional conditions that would increase safety and security for entertainment patrons in Rochester”.

The 6,500-cap Main Street Armory has had its licence suspended in the wake of the tragedy after the police investigation revealed “justifiable concerns” regarding the licensee’s “ability to operate the premises”.

Spectrum News reports that the venue changed hands just weeks after the stampede. According to paperwork filed with the DA’s office, Main Street Armory owner Scott Donaldson sold the venue on 23 March to 900 E Main Street Rochester LLC for $550,000.

National civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has intimated that he plans to file a lawsuit against the venue on behalf of one of the victims and several concertgoers injured in the incident.

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A promoter has been charged after 10 people – mostly children – died in a stampede at a New Year’s concert in Uganda, East Africa.

Abbey Musinguzi, aka Abitex, faces nine counts of rash or negligent acts causing death following alleged “defects in the planning and control of the concert”, held at Freedom City mall in Namasuba.

A crush occurred just after midnight on Sunday (1 January) as concert-goers rushed from the venue through a narrow corridor to watch a fireworks display in the car park to welcome in 2023. Uganda Police Force say the corridor was the only exit/entry point as security guards had locked all the other gates to stop people entering without tickets.

“As a result. several victims were trapped, others trampled upon through the narrow passage way which became a real bottleneck,” says police spokesman Fred Enanga.

Around 400 people were attending the event, with the victims aged between 10 and 30.

“This is a terrible tragedy and our deepest sympathies go to the families of the deceased persons”

“This is a terrible tragedy and our deepest sympathies go to the families of the deceased persons,” adds Enanga.

Police are continuing to investigate the tragedy and have issued further summons for other people involved in the organisation of the concert, which featured various artists.

“We have now summoned for questioning; the proprietor of the venue, the managers, other organisers of the event, the masters of ceremony, ushers, bouncers and private security guards who were dedicated to the event,” says Enanga. “Also summoned are police officers and other security personnel who were deployed to secure the event.

“At a later stage, we shall listen to the parents to some of the children to establish how they separated from them and got trapped in the passageway and gates. Additionally, we are going to share a comprehensive list of guidelines on various aspects of planning and managing events, in partnership with the police, in order to avoid a repeat of such tragic incidents.”

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