ASTROWORLD security personnel were directed to refer to dead concert-goers as “smurfs” to avoid panic at the event, the concert’s security plan reveals.
The plan – seen by The Sun on Tuesday – states that the words “dead” or “deceased” were not to be used on the radios, and the report included a highlighted section in all-capitalized block letters: “ALL EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO NOT PANIC SPECTATORS. LET EVENT CONTINUE IF THREAT IS NOT IN THEIR AREA.”
These directions relate to suspicious items or potential bomb threats, and it’s not clear if rapper Travis Scott was following this instruction or not.
Meanwhile, crackpot conspiracy theorists have sensationally claimed that the tragic deaths of eight people at the “hellish” Astroworld concert last week came as part of a “satanic blood sacrifice.”
Scott staged the event in his hometown of Houston, Texas on Friday night, but the concert ended in tragedy when the crowd of around 50,000 people suddenly surged towards the stage, crushing some attendees.
The eight victims’ ages ranged from 14 to 27 and have all since been identified.
More than 300 others were also injured. At least 23 people were hospitalized, five of whom were under 18. Eleven of those taken to hospital suffered cardiac arrest.
Read our Travis Scott Astroworld live blog for the latest news and updates…
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POLICE CHIEF WALKS BACK ‘INJECTION’ STORY
Over the weekend, Finner claimed that a security worker at the event was pricked in the neck before falling unconscious, which at the time was touted as a suspected drugging.
However, the police chief walked back those claims on Wednesday insisting the story “wasn’t consistent” with what investigators found.
Instead, the guard was actually struck on the head and knocked unconscious. He later came round in a medical tent, Finner said.
“We did locate that security guard. His story is not consistent with that,” Finner said. “He says he was struck in the head, he went unconscious. He said no one injected drugs in him.”
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‘NO SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH SCOTT’
Chief Finner pushed back against claims that he and Scott share a “close relationship”, which some claimed would hinder HPD’s investigation into the event.
“I had no reason to believe it wasn’t safe. I’m the kind of police chief that meets with people,” Finner said of his meeting with Scott days prior to Astroworld.
“[But] If you calling meeting him twice a special relationship, that’s not a close relationship – I’ve met with him twice in my life.”
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‘PRODUCERS AND ENTERTAINER HAD AUTHORITY TO END SHOW’
Facing questions as to why police didn’t step in to stop the doomed Astroworld concert, Finner said the ultimate authority to end the event rested on the shoulders of the production team and Travis Scott – not his department.
The police chief declined to elaborate further.
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INVESTIGATORS FOCUSING ON TIMELINE
Cheif Finner declined to provide specific updates into what investigators believed caused the crowd surge that killed eight and left hundreds of others injured.
He said the matter is currently under investigation, adding that the key focus of the investigation is currently on the “timeline” of events.
He refused to answer a reporters question as to whether Travis Scott finished his set as planned or called the event off early.
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INVESTIGATION ‘MAY TAKE MONTHS’
During his call for patience into HPD’s investigation into the Astroworld tragedy, Chief Finner said it may take weeks or even months for investigators to determine what happened.
“As police chief, I can promise you one thing: we will be laser-focused on the facts and not making assumptions,” he said.
“We will not investigate this case in the media nor in press briefings. I hope you understand that.”
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POLICE CHIEF REFUSES TO RULE OUT CHARGES
Chief Troy Finner said he was “unsure” whether criminal charges would be filed in relation to the eight deaths at Astroworld on Friday night.
He didn’t rule out the possibility but said he felt “uncomfortable” discussing charges at this time.
“I can assure you we won’t leave any stones unturned,” Finner said.
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‘NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE FAMILIES’
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner called for patience in the investigation to the Astroworld tragedy on Wednesday, insisting there’s “nothing more important than the families at this time.”
“I want to be respectful of that. There’s been a lot of talk, rumors, opinion, and speculation – and that’s not helpful.
Everyone has a role … I respect those roles but I expect us to be decent to those families.”
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POLICE DUE TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner is set to imminently hold a press conference about the Astroworld tragedy.
The press conference is scheduled to begin at 3.30pm Wednesday at HPD Headquarters.
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NAMES AND AGES OF SOME VICTIMS REVEALED
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said that those killed at the concert range in age from 14 to 27.
The identities of most of the victims have now been revealed.
The youngest was John Hilgert, a freshman at Houston’s Memorial High School who was a popular student and a keen baseball player.
Among the other victims were Danish Baig, 27, who had been trying to help a family member when he died.
Danish’s brother described him as a “beautiful soul”, and revealed he died trying to save his sister-in-law.
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POLICE WARNING
Police said they spoke with Scott and his team over security concerns ahead of the festival.
Houston’s police chief Troy Finner said: “I met with Travis Scott and his head of security for a few moments last Friday prior to the main event.
“I expressed my concerns regarding public safety and that in my 31 years of law enforcement experience I have never seen a time with more challenges facing citizens.
“I asked Travis Scott and his team to work with HPD for all events over the weekend and to be mindful of his team’s social media messaging on any unscheduled events.”
It is not clear if any action was taken as a result of the conversation or Scott’s team’s response to the police chief.
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‘AREAS OF CONCERN’
A leaked security plan raised fears about crowd safety ahead of the festival.
The plan – obtained by The New York Times – identified “key concerns.”
It read: “Based on the site’s layout and numerous past experiences, the potential for multiple alcohol/drug related incidents, possible evacuation needs, and the ever-present threat of a mass casualty situation are identified as key concerns.”
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‘SMURFS’ CODE AT ASTROWORLD EVENT
Astroworld security and police were directed to refer to dead concert-goers as “smurfs” to avoid panic, according to the concert’s security plan, seen by The Sun.
The words “dead” or “deceased” were never to be used on the radios, the plan states.
The safety report included a highlighted section in all-capitalized block letters: “ALL EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO NOT PANIC SPECTATORS. LET EVENT CONTINUE IF THREAT IS NOT IN THEIR AREA.”
It’s unclear if Travis Scott was following this instruction or not after he was criticized for continuing his performance, but the directions related to suspicious items or potential bomb threats.
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‘LITTLE BOY IS FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE’ AFTER FESTIVAL
A number of injury lawyers, including famed civil rights attorney Ben Crump, are claiming that festival organizers failed to provide adequate security measures to prevent the stampedes that injured hundreds of concertgoers.
Crump said: “This young child and his family will face life-altering trauma from this day forward, a reality that nobody expects when they buy concert tickets.
“Concerts and music festivals such as this are meant to be a safe place for people of all ages to enjoy music in a controlled environment.
“None of that was true about the Astroworld Festival. This little boy is currently fighting for his life, and his parents will never know the same child they entered Astroworld with.”
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TRAVIS SCOTT AND DRAKE ‘FLED HOTEL AFTER TRAGEDY’
The rappers, along with Scott’s girlfriend Kylie Jenner, were all spotted at the Post Oak Hotel before the festival, where staff had pulled out all the stops, including whipping up Astroworld desserts.
But insiders say after Scott was told of the eight fatalities, while at an after-party at Dave & Buster’s, the stars checked out.
One source told The Sun: “I know Travis and Drake were both here on Friday, Drake is a regular guest, and the hotel has an amazing pastry chef who went above and beyond.
“It was all kept private but there were celebrations planned and even a huge Astroworld dessert of Travis’s head created.
“I heard they fled after the tragedy and I didn’t see them or their crew again. I imagine they went somewhere less public.”
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TRAVIS SCOTT COVERING FUNERAL COSTS
The 30-year-old rapper announced he’ll cover the funeral costs of those who tragically lost their lives at the Houston, Texas event, plus team up with BetterHelp to supply free one-on-one online therapy to people who attended.
Scott, whose real name is Jacques Bermon Webster II, will also refund the cost of all tickets for the event.
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KRIS JENNER SLAMMED AFTER SHARING BIRTHDAY PHOTOS
Kylie Jenner’s mom, Kris Jenner, was slammed as being “twisted” as she shared photos of her birthday flowers amid Travis Scott’s Astroworld tragedy.
Kris took to her Instagram Stories for hours and posted snaps of all the flowers she received on her 66th birthday.
Travis Barker, who is engaged to be married to Kris’ daughter Kourtney, sent her a bouquet of roses and wrote: “… Love you and hope you have the best day!”
Kris responded in the Story: “Travis, love you! Thank you for my beautiful birthday flowers!”
Many fans were displeased with the display on her Story and took to Twitter to show it, making comments like, “Is this family really that disconnected from reality? I feel uneasy about the contrast between Kris Jenner showing off her birthday roses and the current situation in Houston…”
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KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN’S FIANCÉ SLAMMED FOR ‘INSENSITIVE POST’
Travis Barker was slammed as “cringe” for his new“insensitive” Instagram post.
The 45-year-old returned to Instagram just days after Travis Scott’s Astroworld tragedy.
Travis took shared a photo with his kids Alabama, 15, Landon, 18, and stepdaughter Atiana De La Hoya, 22, dressed up in their Halloween costumes on Tuesday.
The Blink-182 drummer rocked an Edward Scissorhands costume, while Alabama dressed up as a black cat, Atiana wore a skeleton hoodie and Landon went all out as The Joker.
Alongside the photo, Travis wrote: “The Barker Family.”
While many fans took to the comments section to praise Travis’ elaborate costume, others slammed the musician for the “insensitive” post in light of the recent tragedy involving Kylie Jenner’s baby daddy.
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‘I THOUGHT I’D DIE’
Sarah Alvarez-Galindo, 23, from Austin, exclusively told The Sun that a festival-goer fell backwards on top of her, causing her to fall flat on her back.
She added: “Everyone started pushing into one another and trampling over my body and face to get as close to the stage as possible because Travis Scott was close to the barricade.”
“I thought I was going to f***ing die,” the concert go-er told The Sun.
Sarah told how the aggressive behavior in the crowd started around 9.25pm.
She blacked out for a few seconds while she was on the ground and felt like her body was “on fire.”
After approximately two minutes of torture, a barrier was created and security picked her up from the mob.
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TRAVIS SCOTT’S PREVIOUS ARRESTS
The Sun reported over the weekend how video from Scott’s performances throughout his career show him encouraging fans to leap from balconies or turning on venue security guards.
He has been arrested twice for particularly violent concerts, including once for inciting a riot as he urged fans to rush the stage as the crowds broke through barricades.
The 30-year-old musician pleaded guilty to public disorder charges at concerts in 2015 and 2018.
His own Netflix documentary Look Mom I Can Fly shows Scott whipping his fans into a frenzy and urging them to push past security at his shows.
The film captures his arrest during the Birdseye View tour in 2017 at the Walmart Music Pavilion in Rogers, Arkansas.
In 2015, Travis again was charged with disorderly conduct at Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago.
