Main Street Armory sold to new owner following deadly concert stampede

Sean Lahman, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
·2 min read

Rochester's Main Street Armory has a new owner.

The transaction was recorded just 18 days after a deadly incident following a concert at the venue. 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

The deadly incident prompted the city of Rochester to revoke the venue's entertainment license and cancel future scheduled events after then-owner Scott Donaldson declined to meet with city officials in the days after the concert.

Public records show that the property was sold on March 23 for $550,000. The new owner is identified only as "900 E. Main Street Rochester LLC," a limited liability company that was formed the day before the sale was recorded with the Monroe County Clerk's office. The company's address is listed as a post office box in the town of Brighton.

Former owner Scott Donaldson originally acquired the property during a foreclosure auction in 2005.

RIP Brandy was spray painted on the doorway of the Main Street Armory in memory of Brandy Miller, 35, of Rochester. Miller was one of three women who died from injuries from a crush of concertgoers who surged at the exits when they thought they heard gunfire at the GloRilla concert earlier in the month.
RIP Brandy was spray painted on the doorway of the Main Street Armory in memory of Brandy Miller, 35, of Rochester. Miller was one of three women who died from injuries from a crush of concertgoers who surged at the exits when they thought they heard gunfire at the GloRilla concert earlier in the month.

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. Seven other people were treated at area hospitals for injuries that were not life-threatening.

More: Funeral services set for women killed in stampede at Main Street Armory concert

More: Renowned civil rights attorney to represent family of Armory concert victim

More: 'I am devastated and heartbroken.' GloRilla tweets after deadly stampede at Rochester concert

Rochester Police Chief David Smith said the incident appeared to be the result of a crowd pushing toward the exits after they thought they heard gunfire. While there is no evidence of that, police are investigating several possible causes of the fatal surge, including “possibly crowd size, shots fired, pepper spray and other contributing factors.”

The incident happened just after 11 p.m. as people were exiting the armory following the concert, which featured Memphis-based rappers GloRilla and Finesse2tymes.

The sale of the Armory was first reported by The Rochester Business Journal.

Contact reporter Sean Lahman at slahman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @seanlahman. 

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Main Street Armory in Rochester sold following deadly concert stampede