Mayhem Outside MetLife Stadium During Summer Jam Concert
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- It was chaos in the parking lot of MetLife Stadium Sunday night.
As CBS2's Hazel Sanchez reported, hundreds of concertgoers ran from the gates of MetLife Stadium as police armed with riot gear blasted off tear gas trying to disperse the crowd.
Many people were overcome by the fumes.
"People been standing out here for over 3 1/2 hours just trying to get into a concert that they paid for," said one concertgoer.
Thousands of hip-hop and music fans had converged on the stadium for the Hot97 Summer Jam concert, but hundreds were not allowed inside due to an apparent crowd control problem, Sanchez reported.
"We we arrived here about 4:30-5 o'clock, when we got here they had everybody standing outside in a mob," said Aaron Martin. "...They wouldn't let us in. When I asked him what was going on they said there was some sort of riot but they wouldn't elaborate."
The stadium was put on temporary lock down while an armored tank was brought in using a piercing whistle, forcing spectators to leave the property and parking lot.
The situation became so volatile, a CBS2 camera man was forced into his vehicle while police apprehended a man on the ground.
"Barbaric -- the way they treat our people is like animals. If there was another concert this would've never happened," said one concertgoer.
State police released a statement Sunday night saying "security personnel at one of the entrance gates to MetLife Stadium were confronted by crowds attempting to illegally enter the sold out Summer Jam concert by climbing over fences and forcing their way through security personnel."
Sgt. Gregory Williams said arrests have been made, but could not provide further details.
The concert was headlined by Kendrick Lamar and Chris Brown.
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