SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - An on-stage attack of a rapper during a North Park concert sparked a brawl that sent one man to the hospital with a stab wound Wednesday.
Shortly before 9 p.m., rapper XXXTentacion was performing at the Observatory North Park, located at 2891 University Avenue, when someone rushed the stage and sucker-punched him, knocking him out.
Then, security guards became involved in an altercation on the stage with at least 10 other people, and a 19-year-old man was stabbed during the melee. The victim was taken to the hospital with a non-life threatening injury, according to police.
XXXTentacion was taken from stage by security, police said.
xxxtentacion got sucker punched on stage tonight then security hopped on dude who blindsided him. pic.twitter.com/zb2y90Wrjk
— DJ Akademiks (@IamAkademiks) June 8, 2017
security and venue set me up, I got sucker punched and knocked out, it is what it is.
— MAKE OUT HILL - XXX (@xxxtentacion) June 8, 2017
Responding officers told concertgoers to leave the area.
Fans told 10News the fight was likely started over an ongoing rap feud between XXXTentacion and San Diego-based rapper Rob Stone of "Chill Bill" fame.
San Diego Police officer Billy Hernandez said that as of Thursday morning, there have been no arrests in the two separate incidents.
XXXTentacion tweeted, then deleted, Thursday morning the following: "the most important thing is, when you get knocked down, get back up."
A review of CrimeMapping.com revealed two assaults reported near the Observatory in the past 2.5 months:
- March 17, 2017, 7:00 p.m.: Battery with serious bodily injury on 3000 block of University Ave. (20 feet away from Observatory)
- May 13, 2017, 1:22 a.m.: Battery on a person on the 3900 block of 30th Street (300 feet away from Observatory)
San Diego City Councilmember Christopher Ward said in a statement that North Park residents "cannot be expected to sacrifice basic standards of public health and safety," and said he would be meeting with San Diego Police, Observatory management and community members to make sure proper safety protocols are in place to prevent further incidents.
Sandy Coronilla is a KGTV digital producer. Follow her @10NewsSandy
