Rapper Travis Scott will not be criminally prosecuted for the tragic events at the 2021 Astroworld Festival, a Houston grand jury decided. The crowd crush incident resulted in ten fatalities and thousands of injuries. Scott's attorney, Kent Schaffer, confirmed the grand jury's decision, emphasizing that the rapper was not responsible for the tragedy.
Schaffer's statement highlighted that the decision aligns with various media investigations and government reports, which placed the responsibility for event safety on organizers, operators, and contractors, rather than performers. He pointed out that Scott stopped the show three times and was unaware of the unfolding events. Now, Schaffer hopes that government efforts will concentrate on preventing similar tragedies in the future.
Schaffer had previously stated to Reuters that the Texas criminal code did not encompass Scott's actions or inactions. The investigation, conducted by Houston police and federal officials, focused on the adequacy of safety measures implemented by Scott, Live Nation, and other parties involved. While expressing sympathy for the victims and their families, Schaffer maintained that criminal charges against Scott would not alleviate their suffering.
Attorneys representing victims estimate at least 4,900 fans sustained injuries. In October 2023, families of two victims reached confidential settlements in wrongful death lawsuits against over 20 defendants, including Scott and Live Nation. Over 500 lawsuits were filed following the concert. The incident occurred when Scott took the stage to close the festival, encountering an already densely packed crowd, many of whom had entered without tickets. Authorities reported 50,000 attendees, with over 300 treated at an on-site field hospital and at least 13 hospitalized.
Scott faced criticism for not halting the performance sooner, but he insisted he was unaware of the severity from the stage and only learned of the extent of the tragedy after his set. The youngest victim, Ezra Blount, was nine years old, while others ranged from 14 to 27.
