A CVM-TV cameraman remained in hospital last night and at least 20 other persons were reported nursing wounds when pandemonium broke out as dawn rose over the infamous Sting concert yesterday at the Jamworld Entertainment Centre in Portmore, St Catherine.

For about 10 minutes, a section of the crowd went wild, hyped up by a violent clash between DJ Ninja Man and new dancehall arrivant, Vybz Kartel, and then incensed by the no-show of headline act, Bounty Killer. With missiles raining on the stage and VIP areas, panic-stricken security guards fired machine guns into the air to ward off the stampeding crowd, bringing the show, which started Boxing Day night, to a premature end.

Upset at Bounty’s non-appearance on stage, the irate crowd hurled bottles and rocks at the designated VIP and stage areas, damaging production equipment and injuring several persons, including CVM-TV cameraman, Clayton Crosdale, who was still in hospital at Sunday Observer press time. His condition was not immediately ascertained.

Media vehicles and equipment were also damaged and the tyres of an ambulance slashed. As the missiles rained down, scared patrons who were camped near to the stage, in an effort to escape the hail of bottles, tore down part of the chain link fencing and invaded the back stage area. The shooting added to the confusion and some persons backstage cowered in fright as missiles landed all around them.

As the gunshots rang out, members of the CVM-TV crew, who were streaming the show live via the Internet, all hit the deck and stayed there till the shooting ended.

The Sunday Observer received a frantic telephone call from a New York woman who identified herself as the wife of one of two white reggae performers, Nuff Stylz, whose real name is Rich Wella. Christine Wella said she had not heard from her husband since the incident and the phone in his hotel room rang without an answer. The other entertainer was Sal Lopizolo.

The incident occurred as police were reporting an unusually quiet holiday season so far.

The Greater Portmore police could give no official statistics last night on the number of persons injured at the event, but an officer who answered the phone told the Sunday Observer that he had heard a figure of 20.

“We have no official figures but over 20 persons have reported being injured by missiles,” the officer said. There were no reports of anyone being shot.

At the end of the chaotic melee, several persons including media personnel, patrons and security personnel were injured and had to be taken to hospital.

At the Supreme Promotions production office backstage, at least six women were seen being attended to for various injuries including head wounds and sliced feet.

Entertainer Elephant Man was quoted as saying that he had left because he knew what was to come. “Them things no make sense, man.”

“Never again,” remarked one woman who suffered a nasty gash to the sole of her right foot, as she hobbled out of the Jamworld Entertainment Centre with right shoe in hand. The scantily-clothed woman was among hundreds in the VIP/press area who were forced to run for cover after the dissatisfied crowd went berserk. Many persons, bleary-eyed from the long night outdoors, lost their cell phones, jewelry and shoes in the melee.

Sting, known for similar incidents over the 20 years of its existence, was true to form. This year, the non-appearance of Bounty Killer, real name Rodney Pryce, proved to be the straw that broke the camel’s back. The entertainer was reported to be at the show, but left after the clash between Ninja Man and Vybz Kartel.

Vybz Kartel, whose popularity has risen considerably this year, was enjoying a good run on stage when he decided to throw words at Ninja Man. Ninja Man, typically responded by barging on stage.

At the sight of Ninja Man, the crowd erupted in anticipation of a lyrical clash between the two. The clash turned physical when Ninja Man was hit in the face with a microphone by Vybz Kartel. After returning the blow, Ninja man was mobbed and knocked to the ground by a group of men. In a show of contempt, Vybz Kartel then stomped his rival entertainer.

Ninja Man received an injury to his nose which had to be treated backstage.

After the skirmish, Vybz Kartel was whizzed from the venue with a large entourage in tow, among them Bounty Killer who never returned to perform.

Although infamous for violent incidents, this is the first time in the history of the ‘Sting’ show that two artistes had come to blows during a clash on stage. Hoping to head off incidents and clean up the image of ‘Sting’, the promoters, Supreme Promotion at the launch of this year’s event had gone to lengths to assure patrons that bottle-throwing would be eliminated. But from early in the night, the crowd begun to stone those artistes who did not shine. Among the casualties were, singer Frankie Paul and German-based DJ, Gentleman.