Rap Concert Shut Down After Fights Break Out

A rap and R&B; concert at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre was abruptly closed and spectators ordered to leave Sunday night after several fights broke out among the 18,000 fans.

Irvine Police Sgt. Dwight Henninger said the venue’s private security force requested police backup after fights erupted inside the amphitheater about 6 p.m. during a concert promoted by Los Angeles radio station, KKBT-FM 92.3, The Beat.

Police in riot gear responded and dispersed the otherwise peaceful audience after the concert was closed about 7:40 p.m. by Irvine Meadows officials and representatives from the radio station.

“We don’t know what started [the fights],” Henninger said. “But private security requested that we go there after a second fight broke out. We did have reports of gunfire, but so far we have not heard of any injuries.”

Henninger said no injuries were reported to police and no arrests were made.

Irvine Police Sgt. Jim Lowder, who was assigned to a 24-officer detail at the amphitheater, said the concert was canceled because “[Irvine Meadow officials and concert promoters] decided that was enough and they didn’t want to risk injury to anybody.

“We had fights in the stands around 6 p.m. and they kind of moved around over the area of the amphitheater,” Lowder said. “It was hard to catch up to them.”

A fight broke out after rap star LL Cool J’s act, a 45-minute performance that ended with the popular singer ironically telling the audience to keep the peace and save the children. Witnesses said the fight involved 10 to 25 men. One person reportedly was held down and was bloody.

The amphitheater’s security staff ordered those involved in the fight to leave the concert. However, they attempted to get back in. Concert security guards said the men were seen carrying guns.

The concert, which began at 11 a.m., was scheduled to end at 9 p.m., but it was cut short before two headline acts, Ice Cube and Sisters With Voices (SWV), were due on stage.

Some of the fans reported hearing gunshots as the concert was breaking up, but police could not confirm the reports.

“None of our officers heard any gunshots,” Henninger said.

More than 65 police officers, some in riot gear and at least one carrying a shotgun, were called in from Irvine, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the California Highway Patrol, to move thousands of fans from the amphitheater and also provide traffic control on surface streets.

“We helped them close down the concert there,” said Orange County sheriff’s Lt. Lynn Nehring. “We assisted Irvine police with two sergeants and 19 deputies.”

Eyewitnesses said about 20 police with helmets and batons walked through the audience dispersing the fans toward the parking lot.

“You wanted to see all of [the bands],” said Seneca Hester, 19, a Cal State Long Beach student who was attending the concert. “One person messed up everything. But the rest of the show was cool.”

Dana Henry, 19, from Walnut, said she attended the concert because she likes the music and the radio station.

“I like all the groups,” Henry said, “And, what the [radio station] stands for, no color lines, all races and everyone enjoys their music. But this is upsetting.”

Also contributing to this report was Times staff writer Cheo Hodari Coker.