Multiple Reports of Tear Gas, Pepper Spray Use By New Jersey State Police At Hot 97 Summer Jam

UPDATE 11:55 p.m. EDT: Emmis New York, the parent company of Hot 97, said police were forced to disperse the concertgoers at the gates of Summer Jam at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Sunday night after a few "people created an unsafe environment" upon learning that the tickets for the music festival were sold out.

"For the safety of all guests, the New Jersey State Police were on scene to disperse the crowd," a spokeswoman for the company said in a statement. "The gates were closed at that time. No further entry was permitted into the event."

Ticket holders whose tickets were not scanned will be offered a refund at the point of purchase, Emmis New York said.

UPDATE 10:50 p.m. EDT: Multiple arrests were made outside MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where police clashed with concertgoers attempting to attend the annual Hot 97 Summer Jam. State State Police spokesman Sgt. Gregory Williams said additional troopers had been dispatch to the scene, where there were reports of pepper spray being used on concertgoers and concertgoers hurling bottles at police, the Record reported.

The Record said police used sound generators to try to disperse the crowd as hundreds of officers in riot gear pushed back against crowds trying to get into the stadium. Record photographer Tyson Trish said he was hit over the head by a riot shield as he attempted to take photos.

The disturbance began about 7 p.m., the Record said.

Original post:

Multiple attendees at Hot 97 Summer Jam are taking to Twitter and Instagram to report police use of pepper spray and tear gas at the music festival Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It's unclear what exactly is taking place at the event, but according to multiple tweets, New Jersey State Police are in riot gear and were using pepper spray to take control of the crowd at the gates to the stadium. There have also been reports of police using stun guns and arresting some attendees

An International Business Times editor on the scene said police where throwing cans of tear gas into the crowd. Some concert goers were also seen throwing bottles at the officers.

New Jersey State Police spokesman Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Williams said he was unaware of any issues and had no information to share when contacted. The event was scheduled to include performances from various hip hop stars including Kendrick Lamar, Chris Brown and Big Sean among others.

Below is a compilation of tweets and Instagram photos shared by attendees at the event.