Ten people died last month in an explosion of the Houston Astroworld music festival crowd, one being a nine-year-old boy. He died as a result of compression asphyxia after the crowd ran ahead during Travis Scott’s concert.
On Thursday, Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences revealed the reason. After the tragedy, additional tests were required before the department could make a definitive determination.
The victims died from the Festival’s 50,000 participants. A Washington Post investigation found that seven of them were relatively close to each other, standing in the center of the south quadrant area in front of the stage.
Scott and companies involved in the production of the show face dozens of lawsuits totaling billions of dollar, one of which was filed in November seeking $2 billion for 282 victims.
Reports surfaced last week that Scott was being removed from Coachella’s lineup in India (California).
According to autopsies, the 10 Astroworld Festival victims died from ‘compression asthma’. Above: A crowd pushes a barricade over at the festival
One concertgoer said that the energy “shifted” as Scott, headliner and founder of the festival was ready to take the stage. More people were also coming from nearby concerts.
Near the middle of the south quadrant, seven victims – Rodolfo ‘Rudy’ Penna, Jacob Jurinek and Franco Patino – were found.
The victims are, clockwise: Madison Dubiski, 23; John Hilgert, 14; Bharti Shahani, 22; Axel Acosta, 21; Brianna Rodriguez, 16; Mirza Baig, 27; Franco Patino, 21; Jacob Jurinek, 21; Rodolfo Angel Peña, 23; and Ezra Blount, 9
According to American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, compression asphyxia refers to when “respiration is stopped by external pressure on your body.”
About 300 people suffered injuries and were treated at NRG Park Houston where the event took place on November 5. 25 people were transported to hospital.
The first night was the opening night, with artists such as SZA, Yves Tumor, and Don Toliver already performing. Fans from the other stages joined the crowd as Travis began to perform on the mainstage.
Mason Rodriguez (23), a concertgoer, said that the stage was on one side and concession stands were on the other. The crowd was pushing in from all sides. You were locked in. You couldn’t get out.
Ezra Blount, 9 years old, was the youngest victim.
Others, who ranged in age from 14 to 27 years, were Rodolfo “Rudy” Pena (23); Jacob Jurinek (20); Franco Patino 21; Brianna Rodolfo (16); Danish ‘Mizra’ Baig (27); Axel Acosta 21; John Hilgert (14); Madison Dubiski (23; and Bharti Shahani (22).
Pena, Jurinek and Patino were all among seven of the victims. They were located near the middle of the south quadrant.
Scott was seen in Los Angeles on December 8th, days after he claimed he was “1000%” certain that he had done everything possible to avoid the tragedy
Washington Post interviewed three experts who said that crowds gathered in the south quadrant. They also added rigid dividers to make it more difficult for the people exiting the section.
According to one Astroworld participant, the South Quadrant crowd was eruptive as soon as Scott entered the stage at 9 p.m.
Jacob Amaya explained to the Post that a Travis’s arrival on stage is a sign of a whole new shift in the crowd. ‘I was like, man! This isn’t safe. As I noticed, I began to look at the people in front of my eyes and see them crying. As I glance in my side, I notice my friends screaming out for help.
According to medical examiners, cocaine, methamphetamine, and ethanol were all contributing factors in the death of one man.
Numerous lawsuits were filed regarding injuries sustained and death at the concert. The lawsuits name Scott, Drake as guest performer, Live Nation promoter, and others associated with Houston’s Scoremore Holdings and NRG Park.
Texas A&M student Bharti Shahani, 22, (left) and University of Dayton student Franco Patino, 21, were among the 10 people who died at Astroworld on November 5
Three hundred were treated and discharged at the scene, while 25 people were admitted to hospital.
One lawsuit alone, filed in mid-November, seeks $2 billion on behalf of 282 victims.
‘The defendants stood to make an exorbitant amount of money off this event, and they still chose to cut corners, cut costs, and put attendees at risk,’ California attorney Thomas Henry said in a news release obtained by Bloomberg announcing the suit.
Scott sought a court to dismiss the civil lawsuit filed by Jessie Garcia against him and his business partners on December 7. He issued a “general denial” to every allegation in the complaint.
Sources close to the star say he is planning to issue a similar response to other lawsuits, TMZ reported.
Scott met with Charlemagne Tha Heaven, radio host, for an interview that was published December 9. In which Scott blamed Charlemagne Tha for failing to tell him to stop the broadcast sooner. And he claimed that he didn’t know or were responsible for the stampede and crush of crowds.
Scott stated that he was ‘1000%’ sure he prevented the tragedy and claimed that he didn’t hear the shouts for help and the screaming of the victims as they ran wild.
He replied that things happen and that it had been a long time.
Houston police are investigating the criminal case against Scott and his accomplices in the organizing of the event. None have been charged. The investigation is ongoing and no timeline has been established.
Scott’s lawyer reached out to 10 families who lost their loved ones and offered to cover funeral expenses. Many families declined the offer.
In a November 24 letter sent to the family of 9-year-old Ezra Blount – the youngest person to die from injuries suffered at the concert – Scott’s attorney Daniel Petrocelli said the rapper Treston Blount received his condolences and deepest sympathy. He stated that he would like to extend his support but not intrude upon Mr. Blount’s private time.
Scott offered to cover funeral expenses for those who died. Many families declined Scott’s offer to cover funeral expenses, including Mirza Baig (27), and Ezra Blount (9).
“Travis was devastated by the tragic events at Astroworld Festival. He grieves for those whose loved ones were killed or injured. Petrocelli stated that Travis will do his best to assist the Houston families and start the long journey of healing.
Treston Blount declined the offer through his attorney Robert Hilliard who said that while he believes Scott feels remorse, the rapper must see ‘that he bears some of the responsibility for this tragedy.’
Harris County Judge Lina Hydalgo was the highest elected official from the area that encompasses Houston. She had suggested a third-party investigation into the organization and execution of Scott’s inaugural festival.
Instead, the Harris County administrator will collaborate with other county and city entities to examine security, fire, and other safety plans for NRG Park.
Numerous lawsuits against Scott, Drake and others involving billions of dollars.
Others in Harris County’s governing board, also known as a Commissioner’s Court, are concerned that Hidalgo’s investigation might lead to potential legal liability for the county.
According to experts in crowd safety, an impartial investigation could be done by outsiders. This would help prevent potential conflicts of interests and increase transparency.
For the Astroworld festival, a 56-page operation plan provided detailed procedures to deal with dangerous scenarios such as terrorist threats or shooters.
However, it didn’t include any information regarding what to do if there was a surge of people.
According to Jim Curtis, the community services manager at Indio, Scott has announced that he will not be performing at Coachella next year.