Drakeo the Ruler stabbed at Once Upon A Time In LA festival, Snoop and 50 Cent

Drakeo the Ruler was reportedly stabbed at the Once Upon A Time In LA music festival, leading organizers to cancel the event.

Drakeo was stabbed in area behind the stage at just before 9 p.m. local time and was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, People reporter Tomas Mier said on Twitter.

The rapper, whose real name is Darrell Caldwell, was attacked by a group of men backstage and was seriously injured, a source “with direct knowledge of the incident,” told the Los Angeles Times.

The LAPD confirmed on Twitter that there had been an incident at the festival that concluded the event early. They said the California Highway Patrol would be assisting their investigation.

The Once Upon a Time in LA festival announced via its official Facebook account that the show had ended early, and urged guest to head to the exits.

The concert was held at Banc of California Stadium in Exposition Park in Los Angeles, where hip-hop artists such as Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, The Game, 50 Cent and YG had been scheduled to perform.

Caldwell, 28, was acquitted of a murder charge in 2019 from a 2016 incident in Carson, California that left a 24-year old man dead. He was also acquitted of five attempted murder charges and conspiracy to commit murder. 

LA County prosecutors then sought to retry the rapper for charges related to the same killing, which was resolved in a plea bargain. He was released from custody in November 2020 after three years in prison, from where he recorded a full album “Thank You for Using GTL” to high praise in 2018.