Security Guard Stabbed at Moonrunners Festival in Chicago
UPDATE: Security Guard was “Predominant Agressor” in Moonrunners Stabbing
Friday was the first day of an underground roots gathering called the Moonrunners Festival at Reggie’s Music Joint on State Street in Chicago, and the festivities were marred when a security guard working the door at the event was stabbed in the lower left abdomen outside of the club.
The incident started when a group of young transients with dogs and musical instruments began to mingle near the club. When asked to leave by security, things became heated. “They had been asked to leave multiple times,” Jason from Reggie’s told Saving Country Music. “It was like the 3rd or 4th time they’d been asked to leave. They apparently got violent at that point, started throwing things at the security guard, and then started throwing punches. And so the security reacted, and then one of the transients pulled a knife out and stabbed the security guard.”
The 23-year-old security guard, an employee of Reggie’s, was taken to Northwestern Hospital and is in stable condition. The trainsient was also taken to Northwestern Hospital after sustaining undisclosed injuries.
“About 9:15 PM last night, security at Reggie’s Rock Club approached several bums on a street near the club,” Officer Sullivan of the Chicago Police Department told Saving Country Music early Saturday. “A physical altercation ensued, and the victim was stabbed. One person is in custody.”
Questions remain whether the transients had been drawn to the club because of the event, or were there incidentally. Some witness accounts say they were “gutterpunks” that could have been drawn to the Moonrunners Festival, and would normally not be loitering in that portion of Chicago. “They were loitering on the corner, not even on our property. They were on 21st and State Street, down the block there. They had been there all day,” says Jason from Reggie’s.
Why security from the club would engage the transients if they were not on the club’s property, and what the extent of the transient’s injuries are and if he will be charged with a crime have yet to be determined.
“Area Central is still investigating,” Officer Cooper told Saving Country Music later on Saturday “It’s an ongoing investigation, and nothing has been charged. I don’t know if he’s going to be charged, or not going to be charged. It’s pending. That’s up to the detectives.”
April 26, 2014 @ 5:28 pm
The “honor culture” strikes again (yes, I know this is Chicago, but “roots” festivals in general represent the culture of a certain region of the country known for its violent responses to insults in the name of “honor”).
April 27, 2014 @ 4:02 am
Eric, please elaborate. I guess I’ve never heard of this honor culture. Explain it to me please.
April 28, 2014 @ 4:15 am
Here’s an article describing the phenomenon:
http://www.businessinsider.com/culture-of-honor-study-in-journal-of-personality-and-social-psychology-2013-9
April 28, 2014 @ 7:15 am
Do you really think this had something to do with the stabbing?
I’m going out on a limb here, but I know a lot of people who work security and they deal with all kinds of violent situations on a daily basis. The paramount concern for them is keeping the venue they’re working safe for patrons. Just like a police officer in a sketchy neighborhood is more vigilant, security guards are always looking to diffuse bad situations before an incident occurs.
On the other hand, my cousin was beaten by security guards is Ft. Worth about ten years ago as he was waiting on the curb outside of a bar for his ride to pick him up. Some security guards like the power they have over drunks. And, police almost always side with security in cases like this. Usually, security is sober while the “offenders” are drunk as a skunk.
I was in New Orleans last week walking down St. Ann in the French Quarter with my girlfriend after 11pm. We had just rolled into town and had a room near Jackson Square. We parked the car, checked into our room, freshened up, then headed out to Bourbon St for a beer and some people watching. As we approached Bourbon St. I noticed a group of 8-12 “gutter punks” hanging out under an awning appearing to set up camp on the corner.
Now, I’m not some square suburbanite who wears polos and loafers who hasn’t been immersed in punk culture. But, as I my girl and I walked past the group they started heckling us. Two or three of them asked me for a cigarette, when I declined and kept walking another one yelled that I should give them money to help them get a pizza. As we walked away I heard the group grumbling about how much of an asshole I was that I couldn’t even spare a cigarette or a couple bucks.
Needless to say, my girlfriend was scared shitless, and we decided to take a different route on the way back to the hotel to avoid the street folk.
My point is this: “Gutter punks” often scare and intimidate people. Whether they are trying to or not, they often do. If I were a club owner I would definitely not want a group of “transients” loitering near my club scaring customers, especially when such a big event is going on.
April 26, 2014 @ 6:12 pm
Sorry to hear.
April 27, 2014 @ 7:47 am
somebody should post that show on archive.org…
April 27, 2014 @ 11:17 am
I used to be one of these ‘transients’ back in the 90’s through hurricane Katrina after which I settled down into a career and started a family. I just thought I’d give some personal observation on incidents such as these. I imagine these guys were busking. I’m not sure about now but not too long ago when I was still living that lifestyle busking and train-hopping were fairly active. These kids are often harassed. Train hopping is illegal so it is expected to be harassed but I believe busking is not even if it is looked down on by some.
The problem is the security guards at these events know that they can assault what are basically homeless people are there will likely be no repercussions. The police will generally side with them. Security oversteps its grounds though. The club doesn’t own the sidewalk. In this situation they weren’t even in front of the club but down on the corner apparently. Club security had absolutely no right to attempt to force them to leave. I’m not suggesting it was alright to stab the security guard, I wasn’t there and don’t know the situation. Perhaps the ‘transient’ was defending himself or perhaps he was just a violent asshole. The entire situation would have been avoided though if security had not acted like they own the sidewalk, that much is pretty clear.
I have to assume the courts are not going to care about locking away a transient no matter who was in the right. The guy will probably be locked away from quite a while I imagine.
April 27, 2014 @ 12:17 pm
I think this is a very good point. The stabber could be a total piece of garbage, but if he’s so far away from Reggie’s as it’s being portrayed, then why is a security guard engaging him at arm’s length? If they’re throwing things (which according to witnesses, they were), then you call the police. If you’re concerned for your safety, then you move farther away, inside until police arrive. You don’t move closer. Of course, we don’t know enough of the specifics, so these questions might be answered once they come to light.
It’s also important to note that the transient was also hurt bad enough that it was determined he needed to be admitted to the hospital (not just taken there to be evaluated), and all that no charges have been filed against him at this point.
As soon as I heard about this, I was reminded of the story of Kelly Thomas, who was beaten to death outside of the Slidebar in LA after security called the police on him for loitering, even though he wasn’t on their property. Obviously these are two separate cases, but the scenario is very similar.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Kelly_Thomas
April 27, 2014 @ 12:59 pm
Hey Trigger, could you please explain the “honor culture” that Eric is talking about? I seriously have no idea what he means. Thanks.
April 27, 2014 @ 1:07 pm
I rekon he is talking about this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_honor_(Southern_United_States)
April 27, 2014 @ 2:50 pm
Eric sometimes has some excellent insight. I read his comment about a half dozen times, and couldn’t make heads or tails of it.
April 28, 2014 @ 5:29 am
Culture of Honor appears to equal Redneck Culture. At least as I interpret it, and where I come from (redneck, small town Indiana–my peeps!).
Let a non-redneck do something to a redneck that gives them the impression that he thinks he is better than them and see if he/she doesn’t get assaulted–at least verbally.
(I have redneck inclinations–I try to subdue them–sometimes I succeed!)
April 27, 2014 @ 12:07 pm
This article has a lot of contradictions. Two females and one male are absolutely no match or threat for a gang of 4 to 5 security officers. The knife was not pulled out until the group of guards thought it was justified to gang up on the male, that weighed under 150 pounds. Also, there was an eye witness that was not part of the festival and made a statement to the leading detective, stating that the guards swarmed the male “transient” after standing up to the harrasment of being sprayed with bleach water. This was a hate crime and will be seen as a hate crime for all who were a victim. The bouncers have no jurisdiction over abandoned property of that block. Its time for people to realize what class war means.
April 27, 2014 @ 12:46 pm
Trent,
I agree there are a lot of contradictions in the information at the moment, because we just don’t have the entire story. As time progresses, hopefully those holes get filled, but I stand behid my coverage and sources.
However I just want to say, I have just as much concern and desire to get to the bottom of this for the individual who allegedly stabbed the security guard as I do for the venue, or the event, or the security officer. I find it VERY curious why a security guard is going off property to engage someone at arm’s length. Though transients, homeless, gutterpunks, or whomever might be a nuisance to some, that doesn’t mean they don’t have the same rights as other citizens. That also doesn’t give them the right to stab people, and the transient must answer for his actions as well. But there very well may be two victims here.
It’s interesting that on Facebook where I posted a link to this thread, the concern people have is that I’m sensationalizing this story and it’s unfairly portraying the event. My biggest concern above if the transients were in the area because of the festival or not, is why a security guard is going off-property to engage someone that ALSO ended up in the hospital? As citizens and music fans, I believe it is imperative we ask these questions and attempt to get answers to them.
April 27, 2014 @ 1:00 pm
‘As citizens and music fans, I believe it is imperative we ask these questions and attempt to get answers to them.’
Yup. Good on you for doing this story too I say. They might have come for the event or they may have been in town already or on their way through and decided it was an ideal situation to try to make some coin from a crowd that obviously enjoys music. Hopefully we hear something either way.
April 27, 2014 @ 3:46 pm
As being one of those that were there. My boyfriend so happenned to be graced with a ticket for the show. We took a 26 hour train ride from tn to catch this show. And so we wanted to hang out with friends and just kick it. Considering fact that he has a fifty pound pack and i, myself have about 40 pounds to carry. There was no way i could handle a pup, two packs and a banjo. So as a group, we waited for my boyfriend. We werent asked three or four times to leave. We were asked once, very rudely and after that, we were threatened with violence. So we moved down the street. After couple hours of mingling, we were getting restless. While my boyfriend was at the show, we decided to move back to the corner to dicuss how we were going to get back downtown. Not even five minutes of resting our packs, a security guard was spraying us with bleach water. As soon as myfriend stood up, the mob of guards came and assaulted my friend.
Let me ask the general public, whether it was necessary to choke out a female to the point of unconsciousness, and for more than one bouncer to kick the shit out of a single guy that was already on the ground. Would you not stab someone in self defense?
the horror of seeing my friends face, was nothing ive seen ever in my life. My pup is now afraid of people as soon as the sun goes down.
Also, did you guys consider the background charges of the bouncers? One, has multiple past charges for assault.
We are not trash. We do have right as HUMAN BEINGS. and it breaks my heart that fellow punks dont have a nerve to help stop the madnes.
April 27, 2014 @ 5:27 pm
ACAB
April 28, 2014 @ 12:07 pm
ACAB is downright bullshit, and it pisses me off that people believe this. I’ve been hassled like crazy by cops before, growing up in rural Texas and not being on the high school football team put a target on my back. But, I’ve got close friends who wear a uniform that are nothing but upstanding good people. It’s my experience that people with the ACAB attitude are the ones who don’t comply and end up with their face in the ground and a boot on their neck because they don’t respect any type of authority.
If you’re smart, you don’t give cops shit for no reason.
April 28, 2014 @ 1:10 am
I’ve never heard of using bleach water. Does it have the same effect as pepper spray?
April 27, 2014 @ 5:12 pm
Were any of you actually at the event in question? Did you witness first hand anything that went on? It is easy to speculate and use conjecture to form an opinion, but unless you were there, you do not have all of the facts. It is true that this incident did not happen on Reggie’s property. What your article neglects to mention is that it happened on a very short stretch of street that stretches between the front of the property and the alley behind the property that is used heavily by musicians and crew. While technically public property, that stretch of street was heavily travelled by artists who were paid for their time, their talent, their art, and who were also assured of a level of security. This stretch of street also very frequently was used by music lovers who spent their hard earned money to come to a festival in support of great music. These people were assured a certain level of security as well.
The altercation was heard by numerous attendees and there was concern for the well-being of everyone involved. The staff at Reggie’s are professional and properly trained. I can assure you, this unfortunate event was in no way instigated nor exasserbated by Reggie’s staff. The police had been called *prior* to the stabbing by members of Reggie’s staff. Physical contact was not the first resort. The stabbing happened after the original call to police was made but before the authorities arrived. Furthermore, this was in no way associated with MoonRunners Music Festival. It had nothing to do with the calibur of quality and professionalism associated with MRF staff, attendees, or performers. This could have escalated into something much more serious than it was and that is credited to the well trained staff. This is the 2nd year of the festival and there have been no other incidents of violence or even aggressiveness prior to this event. Zero. Not one. Multiple artists, hundreds of fans, multiple days, and not a single incident. And following this single, isolated, unfortunate event took place, everyone – fans, staff, and talent – went on to enjoy an incredible 2 day music festival without a single issue. I have no doubt next year’s festival will be no different.
I wonder what the promotor of this MoonRunners would say about this?
April 27, 2014 @ 9:18 pm
Sarah,
I understand that this may be a sensitive subject to you, but this statement is completely asinine:
“Were any of you actually at the event in question? Did you witness first hand anything that went on? It is easy to speculate and use conjecture to form an opinion, but unless you were there, you do not have all of the facts.”
98% of articles given by reporters in newspapers, magazines, on websites, or on local or national television news involving a criminal act are administrated by reporters that were not at the scene of the crime. If it was some sort of imperative that reporters witness the crime they write about, no crime would ever be reported on and the 1st Amendment of the Constitution would be virtually meaningless. You may feel for whatever reason that this article was unfair. But it in no way was it anywhere out of the norm of what you would see in any newspaper or local TV news reporting in any location anywhere in the world reporting on a criminal act.
If you are going to criticize this article, you might want to read it first. All I did was report what happened from three named sources, two being in law enforcement, and one being from the venue. I don’t have any obligation to talk to anyone. Honestly, it was my intent to report on this story and move on. But apparently there is MUCH more to this story, including a headlong attempt to discredit it for what reasons are yet to be determined. I do intend to follow up with it, including statements from the promoter if I feel it is germane to the coverage.
Simply put, if you or others try to discredit this report, or subsequent reports because I was not there, the only audience you will find for those opinions are people who have no idea how journalism works and have a compromised ability to reason.
April 28, 2014 @ 12:10 pm
I think you did a great job by making this a short article of facts without speculating.
April 27, 2014 @ 7:33 pm
Security guards have a duty to protect patrons of their venue. If thing swere being thrown at patrons of the event, security has a right to intervene. Why were they loitering and throwing things? Why did the group go back to the corner they were already asked to leave? And, why would you travel illegally on a train with a dog? Of course your dog is now scared of people. The dog was put in a bad situation by a bad owner.
April 28, 2014 @ 6:49 am
Bad pet owner? I get to spend everyday, every hour with my best friend, i cant speak for all travelers, but i do not tolerate any mistreatment towards dogs. My dog eats before i can. I wouldnt voluntarily carry an additional 10-15 pounds for satisfying my pups needs. Which include, food, treats, grooming necessities, toys, etc. You have no idea what youre talking about. My puppy gets to play with other dogs on a daily basis. He is more well behaved than most fullgrown yuppie dogs. If you had a chance to see our dogs, youd see how beautiful they were. And they arent that beautiful from being mistreated. Dogs were never house broken until humans tamed them. They dont need a roof to be happy. So matt, you are sorely mistaken. And people like you dont deserve any type of opinion because you assume youre right. In fact you are horribly horribly wrong. Dont ever fucking mention travelers and their relationship with their dogs, until you ask them and see from first hand. My pup is the best decision ive ever made in my life and he helps me deal with idiots like you. Your opinion doesnt really matter because you have no clue what you’re talking about.
April 28, 2014 @ 6:51 am
I wouldnt voluntarily carry 10-15 extra pounds if i didn’t care*
April 28, 2014 @ 8:41 am
Anon, I’m sorry if I offended. I was out of line. But, I know many travellers in the Minneapolis area, and while some of them are great dog owners others are terrible to their pets. I’ve spent a lot of my life caring for animals who have been mistreated as a foster, and I hate seeing dogs suffer.
Again, I’m sorry about offending you.
April 28, 2014 @ 8:54 am
Also, saying that dogs don’t need a roof over their head is just plain wrong. Dogs are pack animals and before they lived in communities with people they lived in dens with dogs. Dogs need shelter to stay healthy, its a fact.
April 27, 2014 @ 8:03 pm
Also, is there a reason that the only coverage of this festival on this site is negative? This was a gathering of a huge number of artists who are “saving country music” and this site had no coverage? Does it have something to do with Kyle’s feud with JashieP? Seems very fishy…
I’ve seen absolutely no coverage of this incident from any artists or fans who attended the fest. All of the news I’ve seen on Facebook from attendees and artists has be overwhelmingly good. No mention of a stabbing.
April 27, 2014 @ 10:50 pm
” Also, is there a reason that the only coverage of this festival on this site is negative? This was a gathering of a huge number of artists who are “saving country music” and this site had no coverage?”
This article was published 8 hours before the event had even concluded. When I cover live events like a festival, I cover them in one of two ways: either I do a live blog, or I write a review. Obviously because I was not there, I couldn’t conduct a live blog. Even if I was there and was going to post a review, it would not go up until at least the day after the festival, at the earliest. Why would I post a review when there were still acts to play? I would have loved to have been at Moonrunners to cover the event, just as I would have loved to have been at the Larry Joe Taylor Festival in Stephenville, TX, or Stagecoach in California, both which transpired this weekend, and both which also had acts that are “Saving Country Music.” But I couldn’t be at any of them because I’m incredibly, incredibly poor from running this website. What I did do was spend 6 hours this evening live blogging from the Lone Star Music Awards, and posting a review for Doug Strahan, and covered the 1 year anniversary of the passing of George Jones. I have NO obligation to cover any event however. I try to do my best to cover as much music, and as many events as I possibly can.
It also would have been completely inappropriate, and an insult to both the victims and accused, to include some type of music coverage as part of this article. “Someone got stabbed” “The Ten Foot Polecats had a great set!” is NOT the way to disseminate either news or opinion. The last two festivals I wrote reviews for, I posted the review 3 days after the festivities. Even if I had been at Moonrunners, it is unlikely I would have posted any coverage of the event at this point beyond this news story.
Also, the people who are saying that it’s unfair that I posted about this, but not about any of the music are not taking into account that I very well may do so in the future. I was contacted prior to the event by and attendee who showed interest in potentially writing a review. That still might happen. A review is based on sharing ones personal experiences, and I cannot do this without experiencing them myself. A news story about a crime is based off of facts aggregated through appropriate journalism protocols.
Efforts to discredit this story, and the subsequent stories that may be written about this matter, will only make the situation worse. Two people were put in the hospital, and it is important that the press is involved in the situation, and that we get to the bottom of it. Attempts to either discredit my coverage, or intimidate me from covering this story, will not in any way impinge on my resolve to find the conclusion of this story.
April 28, 2014 @ 10:36 am
I didn’t expect a fest review in this particular article, and I for one am not saying you shouldn’t have reported on the stabbing. I think it’s an interesting story, and I’m a little surprised I haven’t seen any other information about it from attendees of the fest.
I just thought you’d have some other coverage like you do with other fests that involve these artists. It’s too bad you weren’t able to get there for some first hand experience of the music, cause it seems like the fest did really well this year. I would have loved to be there.
I’m looking forward to seeing how this particular story plays out, and any other coverage you have of the music.
April 28, 2014 @ 5:19 am
1. Always appreciate the perspective you bring to the stories you make time to share.
2. Always appreciate your willingness to respond to comments. That is why people like ‘anon’, on this story; and relevant band members, label executives, etc come here to comment on other stories. They know they will be heard, and can have a fair discussion. Really strengthens the site.
Keep up the good work!
April 29, 2014 @ 3:12 am
Interesting thread. Love Saving Country Music. I was playing Moonrunners and the altercation happened right in front of me. I included some play by play in a Possessed By Paul James review for the Austin Chronicle. Feel free to check it out here.
http://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/music/2014-04-28/possessed-by-paul-james-at-chicagos-moonrunners-fest/
April 29, 2014 @ 10:22 am
That was a very well written article. Thanks.
April 29, 2014 @ 10:53 am
Thanks for the link and the insight into the incident. I’ve linked to it in the followup article to the incident.
April 29, 2014 @ 5:09 pm
Great article / piece on all counts, I have tried to describe seeing possessed by paul james at muddy roots and have never really been able to find the right words to explain it (to folks that weren’t there), but your review couldn’t have done a better job makes me wish I’d been there to see it..can’t wait for muddy roots wasn’t able to make the last one
I would still love to attend moonrunners in the future when I can afford to do it (doesn’t sound like camping is a good idea)….and the whole fight incident is just shitty all around….. what you wrote is basically what I pictured but that confirmed it…bunch of hothead security dudes…I can’t believe they sprayed them with cleaning spray / bleach what a bunch of assholes..no wonder a fight started either that’s not how you work SECURITY…sounds more like an insecurity issue to me…… regardless glad to see something about it from someone who was there thanks for writing it
And fuck anyone who gangs up on someone by the way. If these security people actually knocked out a girl
May 3, 2014 @ 9:27 pm
I believe it is the article from the Austin Chronicle that states that two women were unconscious. Those security guards are some real tough guys ya know. Jumping a kid four on one and beating up his two female friends. Takes a real man…