8 Killed in Astroworld Festival crowd crush

[skateboy]

Scott's career is likely over now. Or, at least greatly diminished.

 

[PeterG]

It is a lower blow defending someone who was warned prior to the concert about the safety of his fans who still went ahead with the concert.

https://twitter.com/i/events/1457739943749603333

From the above twitter link:

According to The New York Post, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner visited the rapper in his trailer to ‘voice his concerns’ about the crowd.

I assume that if the police chief thought that lives were in danger, he had the power to stop the concert. As opposed to limiting his actions to "voicing concern".

 

[ЭPiKUilyam]

People at the event (with a medical background) said that the medical staff was non-existent, untrained, and didn't have the necessary supplies. So I am skeptical that they made significant changes.

My Uber driver yesterday was telling me about it since he was there. And what you stated is exactly what he said too. There was no medical staff ready available or even knowing what to do ("Where do I check for a pulse?"). He saw it up close too. I'm glad I'm too old for that concert stuff. I also avoid Black Fridays at Walmart. Little good can come from any stampede.

 

[missing]

It looks as though Astroworld was unprepared for what happened.

HOUSTON (AP) — A 56-page event operations plan for the Astroworld music festival included protocols for dangerous scenarios including an active shooter, bomb or terrorist threats, and severe weather, but it did not include information on what to do in the event of a crowd surge...

Astroworld’s security and emergency medical response protocols filed with Harris County and obtained by the AP states “the potential for multiple alcohol/drug related incidents, possible evacuation needs, and the ever-present threat of a mass casualty situation are identified as key concerns.”

The plan instructs staff to “notify Event Control of a suspected deceased victim utilizing the code ‘Smurf’.” It goes on to say, “never use the term ‘dead’ or ‘deceased’ over the radio.” It’s not clear whether the protocol was followed.

 

[Sylvia]

Drake Breaks Silence on Astroworld Festival Deaths

Drake has made his first public remarks following the tragic deaths of eight people at Travis Scott's Astroworld Festival on Nov. 5.

variety.com

As Variety previously reported, the combination of Scott’s chosen set time and a countdown clock may have contributed to the frenzy and confusion as throngs of fans eager to catch his set ran from one end of the grounds to another. Scott’s stage banter, encouraging all in attendance to “rage” and make the ground shake, along with the Drake cameo, seemingly amplified the already energized crowd to the point where people were being shoved, trampled and otherwise injured.
The fateful decision, however, was in having Scott scheduled to go on 45 minutes after SZA’s performance wrapped, as opposed to overlapping slightly with her set or even beginning just as it ended at 8 p.m. It’s what live music professionals call “spreading the field,” and it’s a key facet of crowd control at a large-scale event like a music festival.

 

[FiveRinger]

I'm not sure what they really could have done in the situation, but there are reports of Kylie and Kendall Jenner walking past multiple people lying on the ground receiving medical attention, while being escorted by multiple bodyguards, then claiming they had no idea that anything had happened.

I hope that these ladies weren't that uncaring or as callous as this sounds. But in fairness to Kylie, she is pregnant, so they were probably trying to get her out of there safely.

I am still trying to figure out what happened, so I don't have anything to share except my sympathy and condolences for all of those who were injured or were killed.

 

[Vagabond]

I assume that if the police chief thought that lives were in danger, he had the power to stop the concert. As opposed to limiting his actions to "voicing concern".

Absent a court order, police departments do not have the power to stop concerts before they take place. They do have the power to make arrests where they have probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed. Inasmuch as the concert hadn't happened yet, he most likely did not have probable cause.

 

[puglover]

This news just haunts me. So many young people being seriously injured and dying in such a terrifying, horrific way so needlessly is beyond tragic. Now it sounds like a lot of finger pointing and passing the blame which must be only adding to the grief of those affected. I can't help but wonder how the Kardashian/Jenners would feel if they lost one of their beloved children this way so maybe they should stay out of it.

 

[genevieve]

Travis Scott's job is to perform a concert. Producers and agents and other people who work for him book his venues and deal with all logistical matters, including safety matters.

Travis Scott is the creator and a producer of the concert. He's not just an act that was hired to perform.