The largest Rock The South attendance in history…but aftermath news that is heartbreaking.
This past weekend country music fans from all over the nation gathered in Cullman, Alabama, to watch headliners like Zach Bryan, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, and many other phenomenal acts.
While all of the footage from the festival shows the packed stages, incredible performers, and fun campsites, some heartbreaking news has come up since the festival’s conclusion.
During the Saturday night headliner, a brutal assault took place.
Videos on social media began circulating of several people punching and kicking an eighteen-year-old festival attendee, Reid Watts. Police responded to the incident that evening, and after his mother posted about his horrific injuries on social media, the festival is offering a reward to those obtaining information that can identify the assailant.
“PLEASE help me find the cowards who did this to my son tonight at Rock the South. There were several grown men (30s-40s) who jumped on him and beat him unconscious while his girlfriend stood there screaming and crying for help.
They continued beating him while he was on the ground until security finally got to them and got Reid and Katie out of there and to an ambulance. He has a fractured nose, concussion, stitches, knots the size of softballs on the back of his head.
He never even saw it coming. They jumped on him out of nowhere because one of them said he spilled a drink on him.
Reid didn’t even have a drink in his hand. Anyone who’s ever met Reid knows his personality. He never meets a stranger, he can literally get along with anyone. He is a good kid, and he did not deserve this. PLEASE share and help me find who’s responsible.
One of them had long curly hair, red, white, and blue hat, about 6 ft., and a bigger guy wearing a white shirt. I don’t have much of a description of the rest of them, but I know a lot of people saw, so someone knows who these cowards are.”
Shared the victim’s mother.
She also shared the video of the fight circulating on social media.
It is not for the faint of heart:
While the boy’s mother shares how thankful she is that people are sharing the posts in an attempt to charge who is responsible, no person has been identified thus far.
The Cullman Police Cheif, David Nassetta, has released a statement noting:
“We think we have an identity on the suspect but are not confident enough to release it until we have time to confirm.
We are still interested in any information that the public can provide as far as people who may have witnessed it or people they recognize on the video.”
While police investigations are underway, the festival also released a statement saying:
“Organizers of Rock the South are offering a $10,000 reward plus lifetime tickets to Rock the South for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the physical assault of Reid Watts on Saturday, July 22.
Rock the South welcomed over 35K attendees yesterday evening, and event organizers are working with local law enforcement to identify the perpetrators.
The Cullman Police Department is reviewing all footage taken at Rock the South close to where the incident took place; these videos were shared by both event attendees and Rock the South cameras monitoring the festival.”
Local police stations are providing up-to-date coverage of the attack and asking those with information to contact the Cullman County Police directly.
Our thoughts go out to Reid Watts and his family.
Can people start attending concerts and festivals just to enjoy the damn music…
