Hundreds of Lawsuits Remain After Deadly Crowd Surge
A judge has denied a request from rapper Travis Scott to dismiss lawsuits filed against him in connection with the deadly 2021 Astroworld festival. Ten people died and hundreds were injured in a crowd surge during Scott’s performance.
Families Allege Scott’s Actions Contributed to Tragedy
Lawyers representing the families of the deceased, including the family of 23-year-old Madison Dubiski, argue that Scott’s actions directly contributed to the tragedy. They allege Scott, known legally as Jacques Bermon Webster II, “encouraged people who didn’t have tickets to break in” and ignored pleas to stop the concert despite crowd safety concerns.
Criminal Charges Not Filed
An investigation by Houston police did not result in criminal charges against Scott. Additionally, a grand jury declined to indict Scott or five others on any criminal counts related to the incident.
Deaths Ruled Compression Asphyxia
The ten victims of the Astroworld crowd surge ranged in age from 9 to 27. The medical examiner ruled all ten deaths were caused by compression asphyxia, similar to being crushed by a car.
Settlements Reached in Some Cases
While the lawsuits from several families have been settled, including four of the deceased, hundreds of cases remain unresolved. The lawsuit filed by Dubiski’s family is scheduled to be the first to go to trial, beginning May 6th.
