Diddy, the renowned music mogul and entrepreneur, found himself at the center of a haunting chapter from the past. On December 28th, 1991, a shocking incident unfolded at City College, as eight individuals lost their lives and dozens more were injured in a stampede that featured Diddy who was known as Puff Daddy.
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In the early 90s, the music world buzzed with excitement for the first Heavy D. and Puff Daddy Celebrity Charity basketball game, scheduled to take place at City College. Promoted extensively on KISS FM 98.7, the event promised a star-studded lineup including Boyz II Men, Run-DMC, Jodeci, Heavy D, and Big Daddy Kane. However, the evening turned into a horrifying ordeal when hundreds of rap music fans descended upon the City College gym, resulting in a tragic stampede.
As the eager crowd surged towards the entrance, chaos ensued as people struggled to gain entry into the packed gymnasium. Crushed against walls, thrown to the floor, and trampled by fellow spectators, eight individuals lost their lives while many others sustained injuries. The victims, including Leonard Nelson Jr., Laytesha Heard, Sonya Williams, Dawn McCaine, Yul Dargan, Charise Ann Noel, Darren Brown, and Dirk Swain, were from various locations throughout New York.
In the aftermath of the City College stampede, multiple wrongful death and personal injury lawsuits were filed.
“It does not take an Einstein to know that young people attending a rap concert camouflaged as a ‘celebrity basketball game,’ who have paid as much as $20 a ticket, would not be very happy and easy to control if they were unable to gain admission to the event because it was oversold,” said Judge Louis Benza as he ruled in a 73-page decision against the umbrella City University of New York.
Benza found City College 50% responsible, Diddy 25% responsible and Heavy D 25% responsible. The Judge also said Combs’ security people were responsible for the fatal mistake of closing the stairwell door to the gym.
Surprisingly, no criminal charges were ever brought forth despite the devastating loss of life and the widespread injuries. However, the incident left a lasting impact on the music industry and the fans who attended that ill-fated night.
Years later, the City College stampede continues to capture attention, with a documentary titled “No Way Out” shedding light on the tragedy. Produced by Jason Swain, younger brother of Dirk Swain, the documentary explores the events of that evening and features testimonials from the stars who were present. “No Way Out” can be found on Vimeo on Demand, offering a somber glimpse into the untold stories surrounding the City College stampede.
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Written by S. Samuel
Steven Samuel is the co-founder of SOHH.com.
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