Ezra Blount, the 9-year-old who was on life support after getting trampled at Travis Scott's Astroworld Festival, has died. The child's family confirmed the devastating news on Sunday. Ezra's death brings the death toll from the chaos at the festival to 10.
The family's attorney, Ben Crump, told People in a statement, "The Blount family tonight is grieving the incomprehensible loss of their precious young son. This should not have been the outcome of taking their son to a concert, what should have been a joyful celebration."
The statement continued, "Ezra's death is absolutely heartbreaking. We are committed to seeking answers and justice for the Blount family. But tonight we stand in solidarity with the family, in grief, and in prayer."
Across the country, people had been hoping and praying for the little boy's recovery. He had been placed in a medically induced coma, but sadly he succumbed to his injuries. Ezra was reportedly trampled after falling from his father's shoulders during the tremendous force from surging crowds at the festival.
The boy's family had already filed a lawsuit against performer and Astroworld organizer Travis Scott. The lawsuit claims the performer's "grossly negligent conduct" contributed to the child's life-threatening injuries. It was clear from the complaint that his injuries were extensive. "To his young, growing body, these injuries will have life-long effects, impairing his quality of life and ability to grow and thrive as he would have had he not been subjected to this incident," it said.
The boy's father, Treston Blount, started a GoFundMe page to help with medical expenses for his son in the wake of the incident. On the page, he described what happened that horrific November 5 day, writing, "We attended Travis Scott’s Astro world fest I had my son on my shoulders awaiting drakes stage appearance I began to be crushed until I couldn’t breathe I passed out And I woke up and my son was gone."
He continued, "and due to his severe injuries which are swelling in the back of brain damage and trauma to nearly all organs we are certain that he was trampled."
Travis Scott has spoken out since the festival, saying he's devastated about the deaths. He also said his team has been "actively exploring routes of connection with each and every family affected by the tragedy through the appropriate liaisons." Still, there are so many questions about what Scott knew and when.
While it's hard to believe that performers didn't know there was something wrong in the crowd, that's what Scott's attorney, Ed McPherson, is saying.
"That never got to Travis, that never got to Travis's crew," he told Good Morning America. "He's up there trying to perform. He does not have any ability to know what's going on down below."
Travis Scott continued performing until about 10:10 p.m., about a half hour after officials declared the concert a "mass casualty event." And viral footage shows utter chaos in the crowd. At one point a woman jumped onstage and told security people were dying.
A tremendous number of lawsuits have already generated from the event, and there are likely many to follow. At this point, there are at least 90 civil suits in Harris County District Court. Those suits are asking for accountability from city officials and concert organizers as well as the performers who took the stage at the event.
