Houston Astroworld Festival: Criminal investigation into deadly crowd surge could take weeks, mayor says
“We’re praying for his or her relations, there are nonetheless two people who’re essential — in essential situation in our hospitals — so, we’re praying for all of them,” he mentioned.
“The gang for no matter cause started to push and surge in direction of the entrance of the stage, which brought about the individuals within the entrance to be compressed — they had been unable to flee that state of affairs,” Houston Fireplace Chief Sam Peña advised CNN.
An ambulance quickly made its means into the group to help, as workers and first responders labored to reply to the unfolding tragedy. Scott stopped the present no less than 3 times to ask for assist for stricken concertgoers, viewers members Nick Johnson and Angel Rodriguez advised CNN.
Eight individuals ranging in age from 14 to 27 died from the surge, officers mentioned. Tons of had been injured — lots of whom had been handled at a discipline hospital close to the occasion — and Turner mentioned 13 individuals had been hospitalized as of Saturday.
The Houston Police Division mentioned Sunday the investigation is “very energetic and is in its early phases,” and division companies remained accessible to these in search of info on family members who had been in attendance.
“There is a legal investigation underway at this time limit,” Turner advised CNN, stating he and his workforce met Sunday morning to start “an in depth evaluation of the whole lot that has taken place. It is going to take in all probability weeks if not longer, and I am positive that what occurred can be checked out from many various angles, as effectively appropriately.”
Greater than 500 Houston law enforcement officials had been on the occasion in addition to greater than 700 personal safety personnel, Turner mentioned, calling it a considerable improve from prior iterations of the competition.
Lawsuit filed in opposition to live performance organizers and promoters
Manuel Souza “suffered severe bodily accidents when the uncontrolled crowd on the live performance knocked him to the bottom and trampled him,” the lawsuit mentioned, which CNN obtained from the regulation agency Kherkher Garcia representing Souza.
“Defendants didn’t correctly plan and conduct the live performance in a protected method. As a substitute, they consciously ignored the intense dangers of hurt to concertgoers, and, in some circumstances actively inspired and fomented harmful behaviors,” the lawsuit mentioned.
“We can be investigating this tragedy over the following few days and hope to make clear what occurred and supply solutions to victims and the households of these victims. Nobody ought to ever attend a live performance in concern. This should cease,” in accordance with an announcement from Kherkher Garcia.
In a video posted on Instagram Saturday evening, Scott mentioned, “I am truthfully simply devastated,” and added “we’re truly working proper now to establish the households so we can assist help them by means of this robust time.”
CNN has reached out to Scott, Dwell Nation and Scoremore for touch upon the lawsuit.
Kylie Jenner, who shares a 3-year-old daughter with rapper Travis Scott, mentioned neither she nor Scott had been conscious of the Astroworld fatalities throughout Friday’s live performance.
“I wish to make it clear we weren’t conscious of any fatalities till the information got here out after the present and in no world would have continued filming or performing,” Jenner mentioned in an Instagram publish. “I’m sending my deepest condolences to all of the households throughout this tough time and can be praying for the therapeutic of everybody who has been impacted.”
Victims proceed to be recognized
Because the investigation into what occurred Friday evening continues, household and buddies are mourning these misplaced, together with highschool and faculty college students in addition to a person attempting to save lots of his fiancée from better hurt.
The identification of one of many victims who beforehand had been unknown by authorities has been decided, Turner advised CNN Sunday.
The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences launched an announcement asking for help in figuring out a person in his early 20s with “brief black or darkish brown wavy hair” and “a slight mustache with a noticeable goatee.”
The person was simply over 6 toes tall, weighed about 500 kilos, and was carrying measurement 11 Nike sneakers, the assertion mentioned.
“That individual has been recognized, and call has been made together with his household,” Turner mentioned.
Rapper Roddy Ricch, one of many competition’s performers, introduced he’ll donate his share of live performance proceeds to households of the victims.
“Please have the households of these we misplaced yesterday attain out to @shawnholiday. I will be donating my internet compensation to the households of this incident,” Ricch posted on Instagram, sharing the hashtag “Pray4Houston.”
Astroworld Competition organizers canceled Saturday’s present after the surge and mentioned in an announcement, “Our hearts are with the Astroworld Competition household tonight — particularly these we misplaced and their family members. We’re centered on supporting native officers nonetheless we are able to.”
CNN’s Keith Allen, Melissa Alonso, Gregory Lemos, Amanda Jackson, Claudia Dominguez and Vanessa Worth contributed to this report.
