A man points to the injuries sustained by a patron after he was hit in the face with a bottle during the Heineken Green Synergy finals on Saturday.
The atmosphere of excitement changed in the twinkling of an eye, as mayhem broke out inside of the Mas Camp Village, Oxford Road, on Saturday night, during the finals of the Heineken Green Synergy DJ competition.
Special guest artistes Mavado and Busy Signal were creating a storm onstage at about 2:15 a.m., as they jointly declared that the Mas Camp would be transformed into a 'Badman Place', with nothing but a 'Full Clip' to spare.
However, this vibe was not to last for very long. Mavado, who attempted to serenade some females at the front of the stage, was dragged into the crowd after at least three attempts.
Members of the deejay's entourage jumped to assist him, apparently fired up after hearing Mavado declare that his chain was missing. After some scuffling, one man was left with a bloody face and a shocked Mavado stood onstage demanding that the injured man receive medical attention. He managed to get back his chain.
A security guard pulls his firearm in an effort to keep the crowd at bay during the Heineken Green Synergy finals at Mas Camp, Oxford road, New Kingston, on Saturday.
One patron, in explaining what transpired, told THE STAR that after the deejay was hauled offstage, a man, believed to be a member of his entourage, punched a young lady accused of pulling him off.
A man standing with the young woman attempted to defend her by retaliating with a blow of his own and a bottle was reportedly used to hit him across the face, causing a wound which began to bleed. This did not go down well with many patrons, especially the friends of the wounded man, and a mini riot broke out. Bottles were hurled at the stage and patrons were sent dashing for cover.
The show came to a premature end at 2:30 a.m., but even as THE STAR team made its way through the exit, gunshots and screams were heard in the general area (off Oxford Road). There were also reports of persons being robbed along Oxford Road.
Officers at the New Kingston police post told THE STAR that they have received no reports about the incident and a senior officer from the St. Andrew Central Division, which encompasses New Kingston, said he had received no such reports from his team that had patrolled the area.
A section of the tense crowd at Mas Camp, Oxford road, on Saturday. - Nathaniel stewart