Willie R. Tubbs, FISM News
A collection of public servants in Houston have pledged to uncover who is at fault following the death of eight people at the Astroworld Festival Friday night.
While the causes of death for the victims, who ranged in age from 14-27, are pending autopsies, video shows numerous people being trampled or compressed as thousands of fans repeatedly charged the stage at NRG Park before and during a performance by headliner and festival founder Travis Scott on the first night of what was to have been a two-day festival.
“(This) is a very, very active investigation and we will probably be at it for quite some time to determine what exactly happened,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said during a Saturday press conference.
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner later added, “We leave no stones unturned. This has not happened ever to us in Houston since I’ve been a police officer, and we take pride of it. And we are going to get down to the bottom of it.”
Finner said that his department’s homicide and narcotics divisions would be involved in what was being treated as a murder investigation.
The crowd surge began when a countdown clock signaled 30 minutes until Scott’s performance and worsened once the star took the stage.
On Sunday, one witness told Houston’s KTRK-TV it was “a concert from hell” and described having to be rescued by strangers.
Video from the event shows Scott stop performing and appear confused as the gravity of the situation became apparent. The performance was cancelled as was the remainder of what was to have been a two-day concert.
On Saturday, Scott tweeted, “Houston PD has my total support as they continue to look into the tragic loss of life. I am committed to working together with the Houston community to heal and support the families in need. Thank you to Houston PD, Fire Department, and NRG Park for their immediate response and support. Love you all.”
— TRAVIS SCOTT (@trvisXX) November 6, 2021
“I want to make it clear we weren’t aware of any fatalities until the news came out after the show and in no world would have continued filming or performing,” Kylie Jenner, Scott’s girlfriend, posted on Instagram.
Jenner, who is pregnant with the couple’s second child, was at the concert along with her daughter and sister Kendall.
“Travis and I are broken and devastated,” Jenner wrote in the same Instagram post. “My thoughts and prayers are with all who lost their lives, were injured or affected in anyway by yesterday’s events. And also for Travis who I know cares deeply for his fans and the Houston community.”
Finner confirmed Saturday that there were also reports of someone injecting unknowing concertgoers with a drug.
While Finner did not elaborate on how many or what role, if any, this played in the deaths, he stated that a security guard was treated after feeling a prick in his neck and falling unconscious. Finner said the security guard – who was treated with naloxone, a prescription medicine used to treat people who’ve overdosed – was found to have a needle mark on his neck.
Lina Hidalgo, a judge from Harris County who called for an independent investigation, also participated in the press conference and said she had already begun investigating what measures were taken by the city and county, as well as by the concert’s organizer, Live Nation Entertainment, to prevent and react to the incident.
“It may well be that this tragedy is a result of unpredictable events of circumstances coming together that couldn’t possibly have been avoided,” Hildalgo said. “But until we determine that, I will ask the tough questions.”
Hidalgo had earlier tweeted, “Nobody should ever expect for a loved one to go to a concert and not return. We’re continuing to support the response and are grateful to @houstonpolice @HoustonFire and others for their continued work. I’m calling for an objective and independent investigation into what happened.”
Nobody should ever expect for a loved one to go to a concert and not return. We’re continuing to support the response and are grateful to @houstonpolice @HoustonFire and others for their continued work. I’m calling for an objective and independent investigation into what happened
— Lina Hidalgo (@LinaHidalgoTX) November 6, 2021
According to Finner, 528 officers and 755 security guards had been on site during the festival.
Live Nation is providing investigators with its footage, but Finner asked people from the show to also share any information they had.
“Heartbroken for those lost and impacted at Astroworld last night,” Live Nation tweeted Saturday. “We will continue working to provide as much information and assistance as possible to the local authorities as they investigate the situation.”
— Live Nation (@LiveNation) November 6, 2021
Finner confirmed that Live Nation had been cooperative, but asked concertgoers to share any information or evidence they have.
The management of NRG Park – a property that houses the now-closed Astroworld and Astrodome, as well as NRG Stadium, home of the Houston Texans – tweeted that it would also work closely with authorities.
— NRG Park (@nrgpark) November 6, 2021
Similarly, Astroworld Fest promised to help authorities in their investigation and urged fans to share information.
— ASTROWORLD FEST (@astroworldfest) November 6, 2021
KPRC-TV Houston reports that CrowdSource Rescue, a Houston-area non-profit, sought to cover funeral expenses for the victims.
Such a tragedy has precedent in the United States. In 1979, 11 people died when Cincinnati concertgoers mistook a sound check as the beginning of a concert by The Who, attempted to storm into the still-closed doors of the Riverfront Coliseum.