Almost two years have passed since the tragic 2021 Astroworld festival incident, which claimed the lives of 10 individuals who were crushed to death. Surprisingly, no charges have been filed yet, despite concerns raised by several people, including event workers, about safety issues.
According to Sandra Guerra Thompson, a criminal law professor at the University of Houston Law Center, determining responsibility for these deaths is a complex matter. Without compelling evidence pointing to a specific individual in a position of authority, whose duty was to ensure safety and who should have taken appropriate action, it becomes challenging to hold someone accountable.
On Friday, Houston police released a comprehensive nearly 1,300-page report on the investigation into the tragic Astroworld festival incident. According to the report, contract worker Reece Wheeler came forward and informed the authorities that he witnessed a dangerous crush of people. He reportedly warned an event organizer about the potential for fatalities just before rapper Travis Scott was about to perform onstage.
According to the report from investigators, rapper Travis Scott stated that he did observe one person receiving medical attention near the stage, but overall, he believed the crowd was enjoying the show. He claimed he did not notice any significant issues or hear anyone requesting the show to be halted.
Similarly, hip-hop artist Drake, who also performed at the event, informed the police that it was challenging to see from the stage what was happening in the crowd, and he did not hear anyone calling for the show to stop.
Although no charges have been filed in relation to the tragedy, over 500 lawsuits have been initiated concerning the deaths and injuries that occurred during the concert. Some of these lawsuits have been settled, and they target various parties, including concert promoter Live Nation and Travis Scott.
The victims who lost their lives ranged in age from 9 to 27, and according to medical examiners, all 10 individuals died due to compression asphyxia caused by the overcrowding and crush of the crowd.
No charges have been brought against anyone involved in the Astroworld tragedy. In June, a Texas grand jury decided not to indict six people, including Travis Scott. Prosecutors stated that the circumstances surrounding the deaths made it difficult to pursue charges such as murder, manslaughter, or criminally negligent homicide.
Criminal law professor Sandra Guerra Thompson explained that cases like this present several challenges for prosecutors. The large number of people involved in organizing the event, the scale of the festival, and the high threshold for proving criminal negligence or recklessness make it complicated to hold individuals responsible.
Thompson pointed out the critical questions that need to be addressed: Did those involved know about the severity of the situation? Were they informed that people had died and still chose to proceed with the concert? Alternatively, were they only informed about some injuries, which might be seen as typical for such large-scale events? Determining the communication and knowledge levels of the people involved becomes crucial in such cases.
Travis Scott has denied responsibility for the tragedy and his lawyer, Kent Schaffer, asserted that the performer did not encourage any actions that would result in harm to others. In the aftermath of the grand jury’s decision not to issue indictments, the possibility of endangering a child charges in connection with the deaths of the two youngest concertgoers, aged 9 and 14, was left for prosecutors to consider.
It’s important to note that Travis Scott maintains his stance that he was not responsible for the unfortunate events that unfolded during the Astroworld festival. The legal proceedings and public perception surrounding the incident remain a complex and sensitive matter.
Travis Scott has asserted that he was not aware of the fatalities until after the show concluded. In response to the tragedy, he established Project HEAL, a $5 million initiative aimed at addressing safety concerns for festivals and large-scale events. The project includes funding to tackle safety challenges and implement new measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
During the police investigation, Scott told authorities that he was informed to conclude the show after Drake’s performance, but he was not notified of any emergency situation at that time.
In the aftermath of the Astroworld tragedy, Texas Governor Greg Abbott formed a task force to focus on concert safety. The task force’s purpose was to study crowd control and security measures during mass gatherings and to propose new safety practices to prevent such devastating incidents from occurring in the future. The aim was to improve safety protocols for events of similar scale and magnitude.
In April 2022, the task force investigating the Astroworld tragedy issued its findings, revealing that individuals without tickets gained entry into the outdoor festival area well before the performances started. This unauthorized access overwhelmed the event staff and resulted in various injuries. Additionally, the task force highlighted inconsistencies in the statewide process for granting permits for mass gatherings.
As a response to the findings, the task force put forward a recommendation to establish a command center with the authority to halt or cancel a show promptly if safety concerns arise. This measure aims to provide better control and responsiveness to potential risks during large-scale events.
Sandra Guerra Thompson, the law professor, emphasized that the entertainment industry might need to adapt safety practices following disasters like the Astroworld tragedy. The standards for organizing live concerts of this scale are likely to undergo significant changes in light of these events, with a stronger focus on ensuring public safety and preventing similar incidents from occurring in the future.
