Disappointed Fans at Rock Show Cause Melee; 3 Arrested

Three people were arrested for investigation of assault with a deadly weapon outside a rock concert in Hollywood after more than 200 fans who couldn’t get in threw rocks and bottles and scuffled with police, authorities said.

The three were among about 200 young people who took part in “an unruly melee” that erupted late Friday night outside the Hollywood Palladium when they couldn’t buy tickets to the sold-out show featuring the heavy-metal group Slayer, said Police Lt. Francisco Pegueros.

One of those arrested was a young man who tried to run over a traffic control officer with his van, Pegueros said. “The deadly weapon in that case is the vehicle,” he said.

The other two were arrested for hurling rocks and beer bottles at officers outside the Palladium, he said.

The names of those arrested were not immediately available.

No police officers were injured in the melee, which began at the start of the concert, subsided during the show but then erupted again after the concert as patrons were leaving the hall.

At least two young people were treated at the scene for injuries they sustained when they were pushed through a plate-glass window, Pegueros said. “The whole thing apparently started when some of the kids were upset about not getting tickets,” he said. “Then they started shouting and throwing things.”