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GloRilla’s concert venue considered a ‘death trap’ before shooting incident — Here’s why

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 05: GloRilla performs onstage during the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

GloRilla’s concert venue has long been known as a “death trap,” and the shooting incident validated that reputation.

Thousands of fans packed Rochester’s Main Street Armory on Sunday to see GloRilla and Finesse2tymes perform. However, shortly after 11 p.m. that night, a shooting incident occurred, resulting in a stampede that killed two attendees and injured eight others.

Fans at GloRilla’s concert told Rolling Stone they had heard rumors about the venue’s previous unsafe practices that put others in danger.

Tamira De Jesus, 28, told the magazine that she and other attendees were made aware of the venue’s mixed reviews, with some claiming that it should have been closed down a long time ago. The talk about the location being a “death trap” added to the creepiness of the rumors.

She recalled:

“I didn’t see anything but the whole crowd pushing everyone towards the bathroom like a wave pool. People [began] to fall over and get stepped on.”

Following a report of a physical altercation inside the venue, security and police blocked several doors. Due to the limited number of exit doors, the crowd became more hysterical as they attempted to escape alive.

Rochester’s Main Street Armory was constructed between 1905 and 1907. The US Army used it initially before the armory was allowed to host several events until it was closed down in the late 1990s due to a lack of a fire suppression system.

It reopened in 2005 following extensive renovations. The venue had a physical fire safety inspection and followed fire codes before the shooting incident.

Despite this, rumors of paranormal activity have surfaced in recent years.

No incidents were reported from when it was built until it was closed in the 1990s. However, its revival in 2005 sparked speculation that the facility is haunted.

According to Lite 98.7, attendees and even employees saw moving objects and apparitions. There have also been reports of “Ghost Boy,” as the locals have dubbed him.

The reports prompted Syfy Channel’s Ghost Hunters to visit the location, and a video of one paranormal team showed the investigators allegedly being attacked by a ghost during the investigation.

So far, no new sightings have been made public. A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie’s concert was already scheduled for Saturday after GloRilla’s. The event, however, has since been canceled.