Arts & Entertainment

Travis Scott will not face criminal charges over Astroworld tragedy

Los Angeles, US, June 29 (EFE).- Rapper Travis Scott will not face criminal charges in relation to a crowd crush that caused the deaths of 10 people and injured hundreds more during his show at the 2021 Astroworld music festival in Houston, Texas.

The decision was made by a grand jury and announced by Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg on Thursday at a press conference in which she said that “no crime did occur … no single individual was criminally responsible.”

“It is tragic that 10 innocent people were killed while trying to enjoy an evening of music and entertainment, something many of us do routinely and without a second thought to our safety. But a tragedy isn’t always a crime, and not every death is a homicide,” Ogg said in a statement.

The grand jury also decided not to indict several others connected to the running of the event.

On Nov. 5, 2021, 50,000 fans attended the show at NRG Park in Houston. At the start of the rapper’s set people piled towards the stage causing a crowd crush, resulting in the death of 10 people – most from compression asphyxia – and injuries to more than 300.

Despite the jury ruling out criminal charges, Scott and promoters Live Nation and ScoreMore are reportedly still facing civil lawsuits alleging wrongful death, personal injury and negligence.

Scott has denied allegations regarding his responsibility over the tragedy.

In a statement to the specialist magazine Variety, the rapper’s lawyer Kent Schaffer welcomed the grand jury’s decision, and said that it “confirms what we have known all along – that Travis Scott is not responsible for the AstroWorld tragedy.”

“Travis Scott has been inaccurately and wrongly singled out, despite stopping the show three separate times and being unaware of the events as they were unfolding.”

“Now that this chapter is closed, we hope for the government efforts to focus on what is most important – stopping future heartbreaking tragedies like AstroWorld from ever occurring again,” he said. EFE

mrl/tw

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