Several injured at rapper Phora’s event in Hollywood

Several people were injured in Hollywood late Monday when Los Angeles police showed up to rapper Phora’s event, prompting the large crowd to run away and trample one another, authorities said.

Eight people — including teenagers and young adults — were taken to hospitals, while two others were evaluated at the scene, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Their injuries appeared to be related to an “outdoor crowd surge” and were not life-threatening, the Fire Department said.

The rapper was hosting the event at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, drawing a large crowd to the intersection, said Officer Mike Lopez. He did not know the rapper, but social media posts identify him as Phora, an Anaheim-raised artist who announced a new album last week.

Overwhelmed by the large crowd, event security called the police. When officers showed up, people started running away, Lopez said.

The Los Angeles Police Department was working to disperse the crowd.

“We’re there, on the ground, just to disperse the big crowd that was there,” Lopez said.

Social media posts indicate that Phora was having a meet-and-greet at Shoe Palace. A man who answered the phone at the Hollywood store would not confirm whether it was hosting the artist for the promotional event.

“Everything that happened happened outside,” he said. He would not elaborate and then hung up on a reporter.

Phora responded on Twitter to a news report that several people were injured at the event.

“Na na na everyone good I made sure,” he wrote. “someone passed out but she is okay now, her name is Alejandra and she says hi.”

This post will be updated as more information becomes available.

alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Twitter: @AleneTchek

UPDATES:

11 p.m.: This article was updated with information from the Los Angeles Fire Department.

10:35 p.m.: This article was updated with a comment from Shoe Palace and Phora.

This article was originally published at 10:20 p.m.