Near-riot as downtown Salt Lake City hip-hop concert turns violent

A stabbing at a downtown Salt Lake City hip-hop concert led to a near riot as a small army of police responded to keep order early Friday morning.

Salt Lake City police Detective Veronica Montoya said one 32-year-old man was in the hospital, two other men in jail after allegedly battling with police, and a knife-wielding suspect remained at large.

Public safety dispatchers received a 911 call at 11:46 p.m. Thursday from the Infinity Event Center, 56 E. 600 South, reporting what turned out to be a stabbing.

As police and paramedics arrived, however, the scene got ugly. Not only were concert-goers uncooperative with dozens of arriving officers, some were hostile when told the venue was overcrowded and they would have to leave.

Two men, ages 30 and 25, were arrested when they allegedly faced off with and fought officers. They were booked into Salt Lake County Jail on suspicion of inciting a riot, resisting arrest and obstruction of justice.

The stabbing victim was taken to the hospital with a wound to the abdomen. He was in serious condition, but his injuries were not considered life-threatening, police said.

Officers remained on the scene for several hours to keep the peace as the concert continued.

remims@sltrib.com

Twitter: @remims