In a disturbing series of events at the Alabama music festival Rock the South Saturday night, 18-year-old attendee Reid Watts was apparently brutally attacked.
Cullman police are now probing the altercation that reportedly began with an accusation of beer spillage. The altercation quickly escalated into an apparent violent assault, leaving Watts unconscious on the festival grounds, according to ABC 33/40.
Tragically, his girlfriend Katie Hudgins could only watch in horror as the events unfolded.
“It was horrible. I’m traumatized,” Hudgins told ABC 33/40 reporters.
WARNING: This video shows physical violence and may be disturbing to some viewers.
Rock the South has identified the victim as Reid Watts. The music festival said it is now offering $10,000 plus lifetime tickets to for information on the assault.https://t.co/lB7ZkN7PMT pic.twitter.com/KvwVDi0WUT
— ABC 33/40 News (@abc3340) July 23, 2023
A brave bystander from Nashville named Chase Brown immediately intervened while his girlfriend captured the situation on his phone, the outlet noted.
“I would hope someone would do the same. It was just so many people standing around watching,” Brown stated in an interview with reporters. (RELATED: Teens Beat 15-Year-Old Boy As Bystanders Record Video)
Cullman Police Chief David Nassetta stressed the significance of finding the assailant responsible for such a callous act, per ABC 33/40. Nassetta also urged caution in drawing conclusions solely from the “very chaotic” footage.
“The part we are concerned about is the 5-10 seconds where the victim is laying on the ground and he continues to be hit,” Nassetta explained, per the outlet.
Despite the severity of the attack, Watts, his girlfriend and mother expressed their gratitude in an interview with ABC 33/40 that the outcome was not any more critical.
In response to the incident, Rock the South organizers have offered a substantial $10,000 reward and lifetime tickets to the festival for anyone who provides information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator, the outlet reported.