New details revealed in Rochester Armory stampede investigation

Victoria E. Freile, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
·2 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Rochester police this week released new details about the human stampede at the Rochester Main Street Armory that killed three people following a departmental investigation into what caused the incident.

Three women died from their injuries after a large crowd surged while leaving Rochester's Main Street Armory following a GloRilla concert on March 5, apparently because some in the crowd thought they heard gunshots. The deadly incident prompted the city of Rochester to revoke the venue's entertainment license.

Rhondesia Belton, 33, of Buffalo and Brandy Miller, 35, of Rochester died after being trampled. The third victim, Aisha Stephens, 35, of Syracuse, died from her injuries several days later. City officials on Monday announced that the District Attorney's Office decided not to pursue criminal charges.

In the new report, police shared some new details:

  • Approximately 3,900 people attended the concert in the venue, which has a capacity for 5,000.

  • The loud pops that some patrons mistook for gunshots were likely confetti poppers at the end of the concert.

  • The front doors were not locked, but all four were open at the time of the incident.

  • Private security guards - 40 people - were hired for the concert on top of the 10 to 15 people on the Armory's security team. Private security was also on hand backstage for GloRilla.

  • RPD had a special event detail outside the venue of 8 people - one sergeant and seven officers.

  • A large crowd of nearly 200 people on the front steps of the Armory attempted to enter the venue, claiming they had VIP tickets near the end of the concert. They eventually overtook security and were in the front lobby area of the venue when the stampede occurred, furthering the "traffic jam" near the front doors.

  • Video surveillance cameras within the venue were "dummy cameras" and did not record. The two working cameras at the venue did not record/save video. Police reviewed their own body-camera footage, video and social media posts from patrons - as well as interviewing more than 100 people - for the investigation.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: New details revealed in Rochester NY Armory stampede investigation