College student dies from 'horrific, horrific injuries' sustained at Astroworld, attorney says
The death toll from the crowd surge at last week's Astroworld music festival has risen to nine.
Bharti Shahani, a 22-year-old college student who attended rapper Travis Scott's music festival in Houston with her cousin and sister, died on Wednesday night, CNN reports. She had been hospitalized and placed on a ventilator after being injured in the deadly crowd surge.
An attorney for Shahani's family, James Lassiter, told reporters she was declared dead "from the horrific, horrific injuries that she sustained" at the festival, The Washington Post reports. "This was a monumental travesty from start to finish," Lassiter said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The attorney also described Shahani as a "shining star in the community," and "a sister, a daughter, a high-achieving college student about to graduate from Texas A&M University with high, high grades," according to The Associated Press. Shahani's mother delivered emotional remarks at a news conference, says AP, asking, "What happened to her? I want my baby back." Her cousin, Mohit Bellani, placed blame on the organizers of the concert, according to the Post, alleging, "They suffocated us. They did this to Bharti."
Eight other people were killed, and dozens more were injured, after the crowd at the festival "began to compress towards the front of the stage," which "caused some panic," Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña previously said. The crowd surge occurred during a performance by Scott, who is now facing numerous lawsuits. A criminal investigation is ongoing. Scott has said he's "absolutely devastated" and that police have "my total support as they continue to look into the tragic loss of life."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
'Horror stories of women having to carry nonviable fetuses'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Haiti interim council, prime minister sworn in
Speed Read Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigns amid surging gang violence
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 26, 2024
Cartoons Friday's cartoons - teleprompter troubles, presidential immunity, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published