As the Houston Police Department conducts a criminal investigation into the mass deaths and injuries at the now infamous Astroworld Festival, an injured attendee has already filed a lawsuit against rappers Travis Scott and Drake.
According to the legal documents filed in a Harris County court that were obtained by CNN, concertgoer Manuel Souza claims he “suffered serious bodily injuries when the uncontrolled crowd at the concert knocked him to the ground and trampled him” on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021.
Souza is seeking $1 million in damages and names Scott, Drake and Live Nation among the defendants in the lawsuit.
“Defendants failed to properly plan and conduct the concert in a safe manner,” the lawsuit reads. “Instead, they consciously ignored the extreme risks of harm to concertgoers, and, in some cases actively encouraged and fomented dangerous behaviors. Their gross negligence caused Plaintiff serious injuries.”
According to multiple reports, dozens of concert attendees were traumatized by seeing lifeless bodies trampled upon as the throngs panicked and steamrolled their way toward safety.
Live Nation, the perennial national leader of concert promotions, articulated its devastation from the carnage.
“Heartbroken for those lost and impacted at Astroworld last night,” the company said in a statement. “We will continue working to provide as much information and assistance as possible to the local authorities as they investigate the situation.”
Some fans and observers accuse Scott of behaving callously as attendees were being crushed to the point of passing out, being seriously injured or dying. He reportedly took the stage at 9 p.m., with the earliest report of injuries coming into security at 9:30 p.m. However, Scott continued to perform until 10:10 p.m. CST.
Drake had yet to take the stage when the injuries and deaths occurred.
None of the defendants has responded publicly to the lawsuit.
