A grand jury in Texas has chosen not to indict rapper Travis Scott in connection with a fatal crowd surge during the Astroworld music festival approximately two years ago.
The grand jury convened on Thursday as part of a criminal investigation into Scott and other individuals involved in organizing the concert, which resulted in the death of 10 attendees.
Kent Schaffer, Scott’s legal representative, expressed that the decision comes as “a great relief” for his client.
The rapper, however, continues to be a defendant in numerous civil lawsuits arising from the event in Houston.
Scott, a highly influential figure in the rap music industry, launched Astroworld in partnership with Live Nation, a concert promotion company, in 2018.
A large number of injuries occurred during the event on November 5, 2021, as panic ensued with the overfilled audience pushing towards the front of the stage during Scott’s primary performance.
The deaths of ten attendees, whose ages spanned from nine to 27, were caused by compressive asphyxiation.
Scott has expressed that the incident left him “distraught”, asserting that he was unaware of its magnitude until he finished his performance.
Critics have implicated him and fellow rapper Drake, alleging that they continued their performances despite accounts of “lifeless bodies being passed through the crowd in full view of the stage”.
The fire chief of Houston also asserted that Scott should have suspended the concert much earlier.
Both federal and Houston law enforcement agencies have been investigating whether Scott, Live Nation, the festival promoter, and others involved instituted sufficient safety precautions for the event.
Schaffer, Scott’s legal counsel, affirmed in a statement that the jury convened but decided against indicting his client, further noting that he was unsure of what charges had been contemplated.
“Travis never incited any actions that led to injuries,” stated Mr. Schaffer.
Expressing empathy for the victims of the crowd surge, Mr. Schaffer emphasized: “Travis is not the one to blame. Pursuing criminal charges against him won’t mitigate their suffering.”
Litigations initiated by multiple victims are ongoing in the Texas state courts.
The family of one victim reached a settlement with Scott, Live Nation, and other parties in October 2022, but the details of the agreement remain undisclosed.
Robert Hilliard, a lawyer representing the family of another victim, stated on Thursday that “both criminal and civil accountability are critical to ensure that those responsible for the loss of innocent lives understand the permanent devastation they caused these families”.
