US rapper Travis Scott is facing legal action after at least eight people were killed and hundreds injured in a crush at his Texas festival Astroworld.
One injured concert goer has accused Scott and surprise performer Drake of inciting the crowd, and is seeking $1m (£741,000) in damages.
Neither have commented on the lawsuit.
In a statement following the crush, Scott said he was working to help the families of the victims – the youngest of whom was just 14.
Meanwhile, tributes have been paid on social media to those killed.
“Dancing was her passion and now she is dancing her way to heaven’s pearly gates,” the family of 16-year-old Brianna Rodriguez said in a statement.
The surge began at about 21:15 local time on Friday (02:15 GMT Saturday), when panic broke out as the crowd pressed towards the front of the stage during Scott’s headline set.
Lucas Naccarati told BBC Radio 5 Live that within three minutes of the rapper coming on stage, he “was pretty sure people [were] going to be dying”.
“You couldn’t move, you couldn’t scratch your own face, [that’s how] tight it was,” he said.
The number of casualties quickly overwhelmed the on-site first aiders, officials said. Some 300 people were treated for injuries such as cuts and bruises.
Police in the Texas city of Houston have launched an investigation, including looking into separate reports that somebody in the audience was injecting people with drugs.
Several concert goers had to be revived with anti-drug overdose medicine, including a security officer who police said appeared to have an injection mark in his neck.
One suit filed by 23-year-old attendee Kristian Paredes accuses Scott and Drake of inciting “a riot and violence”, and claims the venue and entertainment company Live Nation failed to provide adequate security and medical services.
The suit, seeking $1m in damages, says Mr Paredes “felt an immediate push” at the front of the general admission section, before “the crowd became chaotic and a stampede began”.
“Many begged security guards hired by Live Nation Entertainment for help, but were ignored,” it adds.
Mr Paredes is described as having suffered “severe bodily injuries”.
Scott, Live Nation and concert promoter Score more are also named in another suit seeking $1m in damages for Manuel Souza. Mr. Souza is described as having suffered “serious bodily injuries when the uncontrolled crowd at the concert knocked him to the ground and trampled him”.
Live Nation has not yet commented on the lawsuits but has said it is “working to provide as much information and assistance as possible to the local authorities as they investigate”.
……………………………………………………………
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.