Eight people, including a police officer, were injured Friday during a concert at Howard University as crowds rushed a gate at the homecoming event, according to the D.C. fire department.
Ambulances were called to the 2400 block of 4th Street Northwest around 4 p.m. for a report that multiple people had been trampled, according to the D.C. firefighters union. A spokesman for D.C. Fire and EMS department said injuries were not life-threatening. It was unclear whether the police officer injured was with campus police or the Metropolitan Police Department.
Howard University spokeswoman Kerry-Ann Hamilton said the homecoming concert Yardfest was “oversubscribed” and the mad dash occurred “as attendees attempted to gain access after the venue reached capacity.”
This is the first time the university has charged an admission fee for the event, which cost $5.
Artists Big Sean, Juicy J and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony were among those scheduled to perform at the event.
The concert stopped for about 30 minutes while organizers and law enforcement dealt with the crowds.
“Students have a to turn down a little for Yardfest to continue. Howard students are too live!” wrote organizers on the homecoming event’s Twitter account @BisonHomecoming. A short time later, the concert resumed.
• Andrea Noble can be reached at anoble@washingtontimes.com.
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