Hip-hop supergroup Beast Coast were slated to perform in Detroit last night on their Escape From New York Tour, but due to a threat of a “possible mass shooting,” the gig was cancelled.
“Due to unforeseen circumstances tonight’s Beast Coast Escape from New York Tour at Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill is canceled,” promoter 313 Presents said in a statement last night. Ticketholders will receive refunds via the venue or should seek reimbursements through point of purchase.
The show, featuring Joey Bada$$ and Flatbush Zombies, was set to take place in Sterling Heights at the Michigan Lottery Amphitheater Sunday night. According to Macomb Daily, 313 Presents were forced to cancel the gig after a caller phoned in a shooting threat a few hours before the show. The promoter notified the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office of the threat.
“We had plans to beef up our security with extra uniformed and plainclothes deputies when we were contacted by the security at Freedom Hill informing us the concert was being cancelled,” Sheriff Anthony Wickersham told Macomb Daily. “Our people were already on site when word of the cancellation came down.”
While the sheriff’s office investigated the threat, they could not determine whether or not the concert was credible. Extra police security will be reinforced at upcoming shows at the venue; Papa Roach is set to perform on August 16, followed by gigs later this month from Hall & Oats and Dave Koz.
This is the latest shooting threat at a concert to make headlines and follows three mass shootings last week. Panic has been prevalent; last week, a showing of To Kill A Mockingbird on Broadway ended in chaos after the audience mistakenly mistook motorcycle backfire as gunshots. Earlier this year, a Hamilton showing ended in a similar way after the crowd mistook fake gunshots as a real shooting, and Miami’s Rolling Loud festival in May left fans scared when fans believed they heard an active shooter.
