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What exactly happened at Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival in Houston? Here’s what we know about the crowd surge and stampede that killed eight people and injured hundreds more.
First, here are the details we can confirm about the tragic sequence of events at Travis Scott’s massive Astroworld Festival in Houston. On Friday, November 5th, the crowd began rushing towards the stage ahead of Travis Scott’s appearance shortly after 9 pm local time. The crush only intensified once Travis Scott took the stage.
Festivalgoers were reportedly attempting to escape from the front of the crowd area, with some climbing onto speakers and taking desperate measures to avoid getting crushed, injured, or suffocating to death.
Travis Scott reportedly noticed the issue but continued his set aside from two brief pauses. Eventually, complete panic ensued as thousands started fleeing the overcrowded areas. Several people were killed and hundreds injured in the stampede and mass chaos. According to one report in the Houston Chronicle, Live Nation agreed to end the show early, though Travis Scott ultimately finished his set. This may have been to fulfill contractual obligations.
At present, at least eight people have been declared dead, with dozens hospitalized with injuries. Victims range from 14 to 27 in age, according to Houston officials. Twenty-five people were transported to area hospitals with injuries in connection with the event. Thirteen of those hospitalized include five minors.
“Last night was tragic on many different levels, and this is a very, very active investigation,” says Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. “And we’ll probably be at it for quite some time to determine exactly what happened.”
Travis Scott has since posted an apology for the Astroworld tragedy on his Twitter account.
Separate reports claim that Travis Scott stopped the show multiple times to draw attention to audience members who needed medical care. But he didn’t stop performing until shortly after 10 pm, one hour after the show started. “I’m absolutely devastated by what took place last night. My prayers go out to the families and all those impacted by what happened at Astroworld Festival,” the statement begins.
“Houston PD has my total support as they continue to look into the tragic loss of life. I am committed to working together with the Houston community to heal and support families in need. Thank you to Houston PD, Fire Department, and NRG Park for their immediate response and support.”
But Scott quickly began responding to criticism on Twitter and Instagram. “Anytime I could make out, you know, anything that’s going on, I stop the show and help them get what they need,” Scott told fans who were concerned. Scott’s girlfriend Kylie Jenner says they weren’t aware of any fatalities until after the show.
“I want to make clear we weren’t aware of any fatalities until the news came out after the show, and in no world would [he] have continued filming or performing,” Jenner’s statement reads.
Roddy Ricch says he will be donating his Astroworld Festival compensation to families who lost loved ones. So what happened during the Astroworld Festival to cause eight people to die?
The Astroworld Festival was very chaotic on Friday night. Houston Fire Chief Sam Pena told CNN that the crowd began to surge towards the stage, leading those in the front to be compressed. The crowd potentially trampled some people who were unable to escape.
But even hours before that crush, security issues were glaring. One video showed hundreds of festivalgoers rushing the VIP area, with security unable to manage the rush. The event may have been dramatically understaffed.
Madeline Eskins, an ICU nurse who attended the festival, says the crowd surged as a countdown clock neared the moment when Travis Scott was due to take the stage. “All of a sudden, people come pressed up against each other, pushed forward and backward. As the time got closer, it got worse and worse.”
“I had constant pressure on my chest; I was being squeezed. Right when he started performing his first song, I looked at my boyfriend and I said, ‘We have to get out of here.'” Some concertgoers report that dividers near the stage to separate ticket holders prevented people from escaping.
TMZ reports that someone in the crowd “went crazy and began injecting some people with some sort of drug” during the Astroworld Festival.
Houston police are investigating that claim. While it remains unclear, Houston PD confirmed that one security officer “felt a prick in his neck” while reaching to restrain someone. Narcan was administered to this security officer and to ‘several’ others at the concert, according to Houston fire and police officials.
A lawsuit has already been filed against Travis Scott and Live Nation seeking damages.
AstroWorld attendee Manuel Souza filed the $1 million lawsuit against Live Nation and its subsidiary, ScoreMore Shows, as well as Travis Scott himself. The lawsuit, filed immediately with the Harris County District Court, claims ‘gross negligence’ by Travis Scott and concert organizers while noting that “defendants failed to properly plan and conduct the concert in a safe manner.” Souza called the stampede a “predictable and preventable tragedy.”
Other lawsuits and even criminal action are likely forthcoming.
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November 08, 2021 at 11:07AM
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