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Man Stabbed At Vans Warped Tour Show
The Vans Warped Tour on Saturday (7/29) was marred by violence when one concertgoer stabbed another, according to police. The two men were reportedly in the mosh pit during the tour’s stop in West Palm Beach, Fla., when the incident took place.
Lonnie Griffin, who was celebrating his 30th birthday at the show, allegedly stabbed Jacob Staley, 24, during a confrontation the two men had in a mosh pit at the MARS Music Amphitheatre, according to a Palm Beach Sheriff’s Department report.
Staley was in the pit with some friends when Griffin allegedly confronted him and asked “What the f**k you looking at?” Griffin then allegedly began punching Staley with his left hand and stabbing him with his right.
Griffin tried to run off after stabbing Staley, but was tackled by other concertgoers who held him down until police arrived, according to the Sheriff's report. Staley was airlifted to St. Mary’s hospital in West Palm Beach where he reportedly underwent surgery. The location and extent of his injuries was not available. A spokesperson for St. Mary’s hospital said he had been discharged on Tuesday (8/1).
"Nothing like this has ever happened before in six years of the Warped Tour," said tour founder Kevin Lyman in a statement posted on the Warped Tour's official website. "It's an isolated incident."
The Vans Warped Tour features a lengthy list of acts, including the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Fenix TX and Less Than Jake. Green Day had headlined the event since it kicked off last month, but was scheduled to leave the Warped tour after Sunday’s performance and head to Japan for a tour of its own.
The Warped Tour continues in Nashville on Tuesday (8/1), and is scheduled to wrap up in El Paso, Tx., on Saturday (8/6).