Rapper Drakeo the Ruler stabbed to death at Los Angeles music festival

• Drakeo the Ruler, whose real name is Darrell Caldwell, was stabbed and killed on Saturday.
• The incident occurred at the Once Upon a Time in LA festival at the Banc of California Stadium.

On Saturday, rapper Drakeo the Ruler was stabbed and killed while attending the Once Upon a Time in LA music festival.

A representative for Drakeo the Ruler, whose real name is Darrel Caldwell, confirmed to Insider that the 28-year-old died following a stabbing incident at the music festival. According to the Los Angeles Times, the incident happened at the Banc of California Stadium in Exposition Park.

Paramedics reportedly arrived at the scene around 8:40 pm and one person — later identified as Drakeo the Ruler — was transported to the hospital in critical condition, the Los Angeles Times reported. Drakeo the Ruler was scheduled to perform at the concert where well-known artists like Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent were scheduled to appear.

The Los Angeles Times reported that around 9:20 p.m., the backstage entrance appeared to be off-limits to everyone but police officers, and at least 20 officers were gathered behind the main stage near yellow police tape.

The event's official Instagram page announced that the event ended early and alerted attendees to find the nearest exit. On Twitter, the Los Angeles Police Department wrote that an "incident" happened at the music festival but did not provide further details.

The event appeared to be organized in part by Live Nation Entertainment, the company that helped produce the 2021 Astroworld Festival, where 10 people died. A Live Nation representative shared a statement with Insider that said an altercation took place backstage.

"There was an altercation in the roadway backstage. Out of respect for those involved and in coordination with local authorities, artists and organizers decided not to move forward with remaining sets so the festival ended an hour early," the statement said.

Representatives for the Los Angeles Police Department did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Drakeo the Ruler was a Los Angeles native known for his 2020 mixtape "Thank You For Using GTL."

In August 2021 Insider reported Drakeo was arrested by the LAPD on gun charges after sharing on Instagram that his Uber driver was pulled over for tinted windows. Prior to, he was indicted on felony charges related to a 2016 murder in 2018, but was later acquitted of the charges in July 2019, The Guardian reported.