Comments posted on the "rave adelaide" website by members of the local dance
community blamed the Rebels for starting the fight.
"The bikies brought their pathetic issues into the
room," one witness wrote on the website.
"Chairs thrown, baseball bats produced, guns fired,
all inside the venue.
"A lot of people in the room were visibly upset and
affected by what happened and it isn't good enough."
Others at the awards night also told The Advertiser
bikies were involved.
The scuffle broke out shortly after the Hilltop Hoods
left the stage with an award for most popular live act. The Hoods were not
involved in any way with the fight.
Police found three live bullet shells and two spent
cartridges inside the centre.
"We don't know who the persons who gatecrashed the
party were," Chief-Inspector Brian Smith said.
The awards were called off after the gun shot was
heard.
Chf-Insp Smith said Operation Avatar – the police
section which deals with bikie activity – had not been asked to help in the
investigation.
He said police were hoping to speak to all sponsors of
the event, which included a "number of nightclubs".
"I would hope that this is not an ongoing inquiry and
we're hoping to come to a definite conclusion in a short time," he said.
SANFL chief executive Leigh Whicker said the
management team at the function "took immediate action and called the
police".
"They made the decision to close the function down,
which was agreed upon by all present," he said.
Mr Whicker said there were six security guards
employed on the night.
"Four of those are the SANFL's professional security
organisation and two others were supplied by the people that booked the
function," he said. He defended the actions of the security guards in
allowing the gatecrashers to gain access to the centre.
"It is a no-smoking venue and there were some 200
people out by the door so the (gatecrashers) obviously got through fairly
quickly and after the altercation they left as quick as what they entered
it," he said.
DJ Driller Jet Armstrong, who was up for a lifetime
achievement award, was at the ceremony. "It was like a tsunami in the middle
of the event of 600 people," Driller said. "A table went over, I saw a chair
thrown and heard what I thought was a gunshot."
DJ Josh, who was a co-host, blamed gatecrashers.
"A table was turned over and it got a bit hairy," she
said.
"The lights went up and (the people involved in the
fighting) got dragged outside."
The rest of the awards were read out on air at Fresh
FM later that night, rather than at the ceremony.
DJ Josh said she had been to every dance music awards
ceremony since its inception and in the past the occasion had been "pretty
much incident-free".
Fresh FM station manager Troy Sincock, who was also at
the awards ceremony, said the incident was "disheartening".
"The whole awards night was a celebration of
Adelaide's youth in this particular industry," he said.
"It is a great disappointment that this is going to
impact on how the older generations perceive youth."
One man broke his leg when he fell down a flight of
stairs in the rush to flee the centre.
He was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and was
last night in a stable condition.
Event organiser and director of 618 Records Tony
Caraccia was unavailable to comment yesterday.
From Ozbiker.org...
Two shots were fired during a brawl at a music awards ceremony in Adelaide,
after six gatecrashers forced their way past security guards to get into the
event.
The shots were fired after the men gatecrashed the 9th South Australian Dance
Music Awards, held at AAMI Stadium, and approached guests seated at a table.
Police said a brawl broke out between the gatecrashers and the guests.
"The table was upturned and a number of chairs were thrown," Detective Chief
Inspector Brian Smith said.
"Three live shells were (later) located inside of the premises and two spent
cartridges were located.
"At this stage we've got no definite statements in relation to persons being
seen with a weapon."
Insp Smith said the gatecrashers forced their way past AAMI Stadium security
guards to gain access to the award ceremony.
Despite earlier suggestions, police said there was no immediate link between the
incident and outlaw motorcycle clubs .. although Adelaide media are claiming the
gatecrashers were connected with the Rebels motorcycle club and, the guests
seated at the table upended, were members or connected with the Hells Angels
motorcycle club.
Amateur video of the incident was also shown on the Ch 10 early news broadcast
About 600 people were at the event but no one was injured during the brawl.
However, one guest broke his leg after falling downstairs.
No one has been arrested in connection with the brawl .. although police were
interviewing people around Adelaide .. hoping for a lead.
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why the newspaper used this pic is anyone's guess...check
out the bottom rockers...