A man was shot
and killed after a Seattle, Washington concert that featured such performers
as Nelly, Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat, LL Cool
J and others.
Leonard Smaldino,
who owned three Sports Warehouse stores in Seattle, was selling food in the
nearby campground operated by the Gorge Amphitheatre, where the KUBE Summer
Jam concert was being held Saturday evening. KUBE is a popular station in Seattle.
The shooting started
at 12:45 AM, Sunday morning and authorities were trying to pinpoint where the
shooting came from. Authorities are finding it more difficult becuase of fireworks
that were going off in the area. Authorities said that the attack appeared to
be unprovoked.
"He thought
it was a safe spot because they shake down everyone for weapons," Smaldino’s
father Gene told the Seattle Times.
Authorities said
that rap and rock concerts at the Gorge were the hardest to control, because
they usually sell out the 20,000 plus venue. "You’ve got a transient crowd
with overnight accommodations and a music venue. Throw in anonymity, large numbers,
a little alcohol and violent lyrics and that creates a lot of tension."
The Grant County Sheriff’s Office is offering a $10,000 reward for information
that leads to the arrest and conviction of the shooter.
