Travis Scott Not Criminally Charged for Astroworld Festival Deaths.
The Harris County District Attorney’s office announced on Thursday that rapper Travis Scott will not face charges for the deaths of ten individuals during his performance at the Astroworld music festival in Houston in 2021.
According to CBS affiliate KHOU, the Harris County grand jury did not find sufficient evidence to criminally charge Scott or others involved in the concert for their role in the tragic incident.
The incident, described as a “mass casualty incident,” occurred on the evening of November 6, 2021. Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña explained that the crowd started to “compress” towards the front of the stage, leading to panic and resulting in injuries. Houston police officials later confirmed that all ten deaths occurred within a single quadrant of the divided concert area due to overcrowding and compression.
Detective Mike Barrow clarified that the incident was not a stampede, stage rush, or crowd surge but rather a slow compaction that caused the collapse within the crowd.
The grand jury’s decision follows a 19-month investigation conducted by the Houston Police Department, which involved digital evidence, witness statements, and chronology reports. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg stated that the police’s full report will be made available to the public, although a specific release date was not provided.
While charges were initially brought against Astroworld Festival manager Brent Silberstein and five others, including Scott, attorney Christopher Downey confirmed that the grand jury did not find probable cause to indict them. Downey expressed relief for Silberstein, acknowledging the stressful time he had endured and his readiness to defend against any criminal charges.
In the aftermath of the incident, Houston’s fire chief, Samuel Peña, emphasized the shared responsibility of everyone involved in the event, including the artist. Peña stated that Scott and the festival organizers should have halted the performance when they became aware of the danger faced by attendees.
The tragedy unfolded on the opening night of the festival, with over 50,000 concertgoers present. As Scott performed, the crowd surged toward the stage, causing panic and numerous injuries. Police reported that twenty-five individuals were rushed to local hospitals, with eleven experiencing cardiac arrest.
In an interview with radio host Charlamagne Tha God, Scott admitted that he was unaware of the severity of the situation until moments before the press conference. He expressed surprise and disbelief, mentioning that people occasionally pass out or experience incidents at concerts, but nothing of this magnitude.
Scott recounted that he was informed through his earpiece that the show would end after the guest finished their set, but he was not given any specific reasons for the decision.
