HOUSTON (Reuters) -Determining the accurate time frame of events when eight people were trampled to death at a Friday night concert in Houston is an early focus of the criminal investigation, the city’s police chief said on Wednesday.
A stampede of fans during rap star Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival killed eight and injured scores who attended the concert in Houston’s NRG Park. Two of the injured are hospitalized in very critical condition, Police Chief Troy Finner told a news conference.
Investigators are looking into the timing of events including what producers knew about serious injuries to fans before the decision to end the show at about 10:10 p.m.
A high-ranking member of the production team was told cardiopulmonary resuscitation was being performed on one or more attendees, Finner said.
The timing of events has shifted from what was initially understood, the chief said, adding: “I’m not going to discuss timelines because I don’t have all the facts.”
At least 50 lawsuits have been filed against producer Live Nation Entertainment Inc and Scott because of deaths and injuries related to Friday’s concert.
Finner walked back comments from a prior briefing on security staffing and an alleged needle attack on a private security guard. On Saturday, Finner put the number of private security personnel at 755 and said police were looking into reports of the needle attack.
Police interviewed the security guard reported to have been struck by a needle while helping a fan. But the guard disputed he was injected in the neck by someone in the crowd, Finner said.
Finner said the number of private guards was being reviewed and that the earlier figure no longer holds. “Some of the records presented to us were just not good records,” he said.
He promised a comprehensive investigation even as local officials called for an independent probe because the police department deployed 500 officers to the concert. While the FBI has offered to help, Houston police are in charge of the criminal probe, Finner said.
“When I say we’re looking at all aspects, I mean it,” he said. “We truly mean it. We owe it to them (the victims).”
Scott, whose hometown is Houston, said he was “devastated” by the events and would cover all funeral costs and offer aid to those affected. He is also working with law enforcement and city officials to “respectfully and appropriately connect” with victims and their families, according to a statement.
(Reporting by Erwin Seba; Editing by Alistair Bell and Peter Cooney)
