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Saturday January 15 8:03 AM ET

Oakland, Calif. Rap Concert Halted by Violence

OAKLAND, Calif. (Reuters) - A rap concert at the Oakland Coliseum was canceled on Friday after a crowd stormed the arena to gain entry and battled with the audience already inside, the Alameda County Sheriff's Department said on Saturday.

Lt. J.C. Maldonado said approximately 12,500 people were on hand Friday night for the ``Cash Money Rap Concert,'' to hear performances by three acts when the disruption occurred.

A crowd outside the Coliseum broke down doors and stormed the arena floor, authorities said. Chairs were thrown and one person was tossed off a balcony.

``One of the sheriff's patrol vehicles had its windshield broken by a bottle while shots were reported in and outside the arena,'' Maldonado said in a statement.

Coliseum officials canceled the remainder of the concert, police said.

At the height of the fracas, 60 Alameda County sheriff's deputies were at the facility, as were officers from the Oakland Police Department and other local police. The California Highway Patrol briefly closed several local highway ramps to keep vehicles away.

Maldonado said about 25 people were injured, including a deputy sheriff who was struck in the head with a chair and a number of Coliseum staff members.

There were no reports of arrests.

-- Its (All@Conspiracy.com), January 15, 2000

Answers

Thank God the lights didn't go out. Sheeeesh...

Kook

-- Y2Kook (Y2Kook@usa.net), January 15, 2000.

And they all had the flu!

-- (ohno@mr.bill), January 15, 2000.

With 25 people injured, including a person thrown from a balcony, there were no reports of arrests? Why on earth not?

-- (RUOK@yesiam.com), January 15, 2000.

In such situations it is well known by police that arrests cause a much worse situation. Intelligence is gathered by undercover officers at the developing scene and video footage is studied after the fact to identify those causing trouble. (The mob's leaders are usually known to the police.) Arrests may be expected.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), January 15, 2000.

This gives rap music and those who listen to it a bad rap. But what do they expect when some of the music speaks of violence....

-- rapatapatap (rapataptap@rapataptappp.xcom), January 15, 2000.

When ya see the fightin'

Who can blame the slightin'?

'Cos the first who can blame

Is the worst with shame.

Can ya see where I'm goin'?

Is your mind now slowin'?

Take a deep breath, child,

'Cos it's goin' down wild!

BOOM-bah-bah-BOOM-bah-bah-BOOM-bah-bah...

-- dinosaur (dinosaur@williams-net.com), January 15, 2000.

aint nothin' but a gangsta party!

-- Inever (Inevercheckmy@onebox.com), January 16, 2000.

Sounds like an average afternoon at an English football match :o)

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), January 16, 2000.