Following the tragic events that occurred at the Astroworld Festival, the FBI is joining Harris County and City of Houston in a criminal investigation.
In the wake of Travis Scott’s Astroworld Music Festival at NRG Park in Houston, that which resulted in the tragic death of 8 people as well as many more injured, a criminal investigation is underway that which has expanded to include the FBI, according to KPRC 2. [Featured image: @ALEX BIERENS DE HAAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP]
Immediately following the horrific events of this past weekend, in which 8 concertgoers were killed in a crowd surge that left many more injured, with some still in critical condition, local officials launched an investigation into the surrounding circumstances, all well as of involved parties.
Mayor Sylvester Turner called for detailed briefings with the festival’s organizer, Live Nation, as well as NRG Park, Harris County, concert promoters, witnesses, and emergency agencies. Shortly thereafter, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo echoed this sentiment, calling for an “objective and independent investigation into what happened.”
Governor Greg Abbott also released a statement, directing “the Texas Department of Public Safety to make state resources available to support the investigation.”
The tragedy that unfolded at the concert was well-documented, as many concertgoers recorded the harrowing events on their cell phones. Their footage revealed that some concertgoers even tried pleading with concert personnel to stop the show after witnessing the fatal crowd crush to no avail.
As lawsuits begin to mount – against Travis Scott, Aubrey “Drake” Graham, NRG Stadium and Live Nation – officials are attempting to narrow their sights into all of those culpable for the events that transpired.
“We’re working to figure out which entity can do that investigation, because there’s so many different players,” said Hidalgo.
Due to its complexity, the FBI has stepped in to aid with the investigation. Brian Wice, a legal analyst at KPRC 2, stated that the officials likely tapped the FBI for their resources.
“There are eight promising young people who aren’t at home tonight with their friends and loved ones, and as a result of their untimely, tragic and probably preventable deaths, that situation is probably enough to initiate a criminal investigation to determine whether or not their deaths were something more than simple negligence,” Wice said.