(Washington) A lawsuit was filed Sunday against rappers Travis Scott and Drake, accused of “causing havoc” at a festival in Texas and being responsible for a crowd movement that made eight dead and 12 injured, according to the plaintiff’s lawyers.
Texas law firm Thomas J. Henry Law tweeted an article published by the daily on Sunday Daily Mail on these lawsuits, confirming that he had filed “one of the first complaints against the Travis Scott tragedy at the Astroworld festival.” ”
Kristian Paredes, the 23-year-old complainant, is one of the “seriously injured” people at the concert on the night of November 5.
In total, nearly 50,000 people were in the crowd of the Astroworld festival, where more than 360 police officers and 240 security guards were mobilized.
PHOTO JAMAAL ELLIS, HOUSTON CHRONICLE VIA AP
Part of the crowd attending the Astroworld festival
At around 9 p.m. local time, the crowd began to rush to the front of the stage, causing panic and the first injuries. Then people began to fall and lose consciousness, causing further panic, authorities said.
Mr. Paredes, a resident of Texas, is also suing the organizers of the concert, Live Nation, and the performance hall. He says he “felt an immediate push” at the front of the general entrances section when Travis Scott took the stage, according to the complaint. “The crowd became chaotic and a stampede began.”
“Several people begged Live Nation security guards for help, but were ignored,” the complaint continues.
The complaint, filed in court in Houston, ensures that Travis Scott has already “incited chaos and mayhem” during previous concerts. She also accuses rapper Drake of having contributed to this crowd movement by going on stage.
The latter continued his concert, despite the fact that the “crowd was getting out of control”.
According to other accounts, Travis Scott, who launched Astroworld tour in 2018, has stopped performing in view of his distressed fans near the stage.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said authorities were reviewing video footage and speaking to witnesses, concert organizers and people in hospital.