A grand jury in Texas has decided not to indict rapper Travis Scott and the organizers of the Astroworld Festival in Houston following a tragic stampede that occurred in November 2021, resulting in the deaths of 10 individuals.
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced the grand jury’s decision, stating that not every tragedy constitutes a crime. While acknowledging the sorrowful loss of innocent lives during what should have been an evening of music and enjoyment, Ogg emphasized that tragedy alone does not always equate to criminal liability.
The grand jury’s determination, which resulted in six no-bills, effectively concludes the criminal investigation. However, it should be noted that this decision does not impact the ongoing civil lawsuits that are currently underway.
Travis Scott and five others, namely Brent Silberstein, John Junell, Shawna Boardman, Emily Ockenden, and Seyth Boardman, were among those not indicted by the grand jury.
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Ogg commended the dedication of the investigators and prosecutors involved in the case, recognizing their commitment to conducting a thorough investigation befitting the victims and their families.
The case was presented to the grand jury after a 19-month investigation conducted by the Houston Police Department. Ogg stated that every relevant piece of information had been meticulously collected by the officers, allowing them to conclude the investigation in collaboration with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
The policy of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office is to involve a grand jury in reviewing cases involving serious or fatal incidents that may or may not involve criminal activity. Such cases are typically investigated by the jurisdiction’s lead agency.
The Astroworld Festival incident witnessed tens of thousands of individuals surging toward the stage during Travis Scott’s performance, resulting in numerous injuries and the tragic loss of 10 lives, including two minors.
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner described the investigation as complex and confirmed its recent completion. He mentioned that the findings would be made public in due course.