A grand jury in Texas has decided that US rapper Travis Scott will not face criminal charges over the death of 10 people killed in a crush at the Astroworld music festival nearly two years ago.
Some 50,000 people had packed into Houston's NRG Park in the US for Scott's Astroworld music festival in November 2021 when the over-capacity crowd started pushing towards the stage as he was performing.
Lacking air and space, some fainted and were trampled on by the panicked crowd. Ten people, ranging in age from nine to 27, were killed by compressive asphyxiation.
Faced with cries for help, organisers waited over 20 minutes before stopping the music and evacuating the area.
Critics accused Scott and fellow rapper Drake of continuing to perform despite accounts of "lifeless bodies being passed through the crowd in full view of the stage". Houston's fire chief said that Scott should have halted the show much earlier.
The rapper has said the tragedy left him "distraught" but that he was not aware of its extent until coming off stage.
"It is tragic that 10 innocent people were killed while trying to enjoy an evening of music and entertainment," Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said. "But a tragedy isn't always a crime, and not every death is a homicide."
"No criminal charges will be filed in the incident," a statement by Ogg's office read.
Multiple lawsuits have been filed against Astroworld festival organisers, who accusers say failed to ensure the safety of concertgoers.
In addition to Scott, promoters, concert site managers and several companies associated with the festival have been targeted in the suits.
Thursday's ruling concerns only criminal proceedings, meaning civil lawsuits can still proceed.
Source: AFP
