UMES Concert Canceled

University of Maryland Eastern Shore officials canceled the school’s Feb. 16 homecoming concert because of a frustrated and unruly crowd.

Area law enforcement used pepper spray to subdue a crowd of attendees that had broken through the doors to the William P. Hytche Athletic Center at about 10 p.m., according to a statement from UMES President Juliette B. Bell. About 1,300 to 1,500 people were reportedly inside the venue when a technology glitch caused a delay in processing concertgoers, according to the Delmarva Daily Times.

The crowd’s frustration led to going through the doors, bypassing security and ticket-takers and knocking over metal detectors. The concert, featuring rap acts Migos and A Boogie, was canceled because of safety concerns, the Times said.

After what happened, Bell said the rest of the school’s homecoming events, including another concert in the works, would be reevaluated to make sure there is sufficient crowd control.

Officials tweeted that refunds for the concert would be issued Feb. 17.

This isn’t the first incident at a UMES homecoming. In 2013, a student was stabbed to death in a fight on campus during Homecoming, and the case is still open. Related to that same event, rapper 2 Chainz was busted on a drug charge on his way to perform at the homecoming concert.