Deadly Houston Stampede Spurs Security Concerns
Police continue to investigate the cause of a crowd stampede at NRG Park in Houston on Friday, Nov. 5 that caused the death of eight people and injured hundreds more. Among those killed at the Travis Scott concert was a 14-year-old boy. A 10-year-old boy was among those who were injured. Those who lost their lives at the concert were between 14 and 27 years old. It is unknown what made the crowd surge forward.
With the headline performer, Travis Scott, starting at 9:00 p.m. the crowd became so dangerous that an ambulance entered the concert at 9:30 p.m. Concertgoers were lifting up the injured and surfing them over the crowd, hoping to get them to safety.
A security officer trying to restrain a concertgoer was jabbed with a needle and passed out. The officer was brought back to consciousness via Narcan, which counters the effects of opioid drugs. People were pleading for the concert to stop and seeking CPR for injured people.
Travis Scott, while at times appearing to urge on the crowd, also paused to say that something seemed wrong, but he continued to play until 10:10 p.m. The concert promotion company, Live Nation, ended the concert 30 minutes earlier than scheduled.
It is unknown how much the performers could tell was going on from the stage. Houston’s police chief said that concert organizers were concerned that cutting off the concert would possibly incite riots.
The city fire department saw no problems or obstacles at the exits. The fire department is looking into reports that the crowd was much bigger than the event planned to host, which was 50,000. NRG Park can hold up to 200,000 people, and there are reports that many were rushing in right before the concert started.
Families of those who have died due to negligence have the right to seek justice. The Savannah wrongful death attorneys at Kicklighter Law have decades of experience helping families with wrongful death claims. Call 912-754-6003 or fill out an online form to schedule a consultation. Located in Springfield, Georgia, the firm serves clients throughout Effingham County, Savannah, and the surrounding areas.