HOUSTON, NOV 9 (US): When rapper Travis Scott’s concert in Houston became a deadly scene of panic and danger amid the growing crowd, Edgar Acosta began to worry about his son not answering his phone.
He contacted hospitals and the police, who told him his son was not on the list of Astroworld Victims. They were wrong: Axel Acosta Avila, 21, was among the eight people who died Friday night at the outdoor festival attended by about 50,000 people and is now the focus of a criminal investigation, the Associated Press reports.
On Monday, authorities released the names of the dead as they continued to look into what went wrong when a crowd of fans pressed forward after Scott took the podium. The Houston police chief said Monday that he met with Scott before the rapper’s performance Friday over safety concerns, but did not say what specifically concerned him.
“They told me, Mr. Acosta, that your son is not on the list, so you don’t have to worry about anything. He’s not on the list of dead or injured,” said Edgar Acosta, whose family was among those suing festival organizers.
“I told them, ‘Well, he didn’t spend the night at the hotel, so I’m worried about him.'”
Houston Police and Fire Department investigators said they will review a video clip taken by the Live Nation party promoter, as well as dozens of clips of people in the show that were widely shared on social media. The investigators also planned to speak with Live Nation representatives, Scott, and concertgoers.
Live Nation said in a statement on Monday that it had provided authorities with all footage from the festival’s CCTV, and that it had paused removal of the equipment at the request of investigators who were walking the grounds. The promoter said full refunds will be given to all attendees.
Scott’s scheduled appearance at the Day N Vegas Festival in Las Vegas this weekend has been cancelled, according to a Scott representative who requested anonymity because he was not allowed to speak publicly about the matter.
Scott, who founded the Astroworld Festival, said he would cover funeral costs for the victims. The dead ranged in age from 14 to 27 and were from Texas, Illinois and Washington, according to Harris County authorities. Among them were high school students, an aspiring Border Patrol agent, and a computer science student.
More than 300 people were treated at a field hospital on the site and at least 13 others were hospitalized. Houston Police Chief Troy Viner said his meeting with Scott prior to the show included the rapper’s security chief. But Wiener did not go into detail about their conversation in a statement from the police department.
“I’ve asked Travis Scott and his team to work with HPD for all events over the weekend and to be aware of his team’s social media messages about any scheduled events,” Viner said. “The meeting was short and respectful, and it was an opportunity for me to share my public safety concerns as Chief of Police.”
Investigators were also questioning witnesses and planning to examine the design of safety barriers and the use of crowd control at the event.
It’s not the fans’ fault at all, because there’s no way you can even move, said 19-year-old Ben Castro, a festival-goer. He returned to the scene on Monday to drop flowers at a makeshift memorial that included notes, T-shirts and candles. He said he didn’t know that Nobody died until the next day.
Medical examiners have not yet released the cause of death, which could take several weeks, said Michelle Arnold, a spokeswoman for the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
According to Texas county records, Los Angeles-based Confederate Services were responsible for security personnel at the festival. The company describes itself online as “a globally recognized leader, expert, employee-only company in crowd management.” Company representatives did not respond to emails and phone messages seeking comment.
Astroworld organizers have put security and emergency medical response protocols into the festival plans submitted to Harris County. The 56-page operations plan, obtained by The Associated Press, states that “the potential for numerous alcohol/drug related incidents, potential evacuation needs, and the ever-present threat of mass casualties are of primary concern.”
The plan instructs staff to “notify Event Control of a suspected deceased victim using the ‘Smurf’ code.” He went on to say, “Do not use the term ‘dead’ or ‘deceased’ over the radio.” It is not clear if protocol has been followed.
None of the listed individuals responsible for managing the security and operations of Astroworld responded to requests for comment.
There is a long history of similar disasters at concerts, as well as sporting and religious events. In 1979, 11 people were killed when thousands of fans tried to enter the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati to watch a concert for The Who. Other disasters affecting fans include the deaths of 97 people at a football match at Hillsborough Stadium in 1989 in Sheffield, England, and several disasters linked to the annual Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
RAE