The law firm stated on Sunday that rappers Travis Scott and Drake have been sued for “inciting mayhem” after eight people were murdered and scores injured in a crush at a Texas event.

On Sunday, Texas law firm Thomas J. Henry Law said it had filed “one of the first lawsuits in the Travis Scott Astroworld Festival disaster,” according to an article published by the Daily Mail.

Kristian Paredes, a 23-year-old concertgoer, is the plaintiff. He was one of the “severely injured” at the concert on November 5th.

Around 50,000 people were in the audience at NRG Park in Houston when the mob began surging toward the stage as Scott was playing, causing chaos.

According to the complaint, Paredes, a Texas resident who is also suing concert promoters Live Nation and the venue, “felt an immediate push” at the front of the general admission area as Travis Scott took the stage.

“The audience became enraged, and a stampede ensued,” it continued.

“Many pleaded with Live Nation Entertainment security personnel for assistance, but they were ignored.”

Scott “had incited mayhem and turmoil at earlier gatherings,” according to the lawsuit, which says “defendants knew or should have known of (Scott’s) prior conduct.”

The complaint also accuses Drake, a Canadian rap superstar who performed alongside Scott during his headlining set, of contributing to the crowd’s rush to the stage.

The complaint claims that when Drake joined Travis Scott onstage, he “helped excite the audience” despite knowing about Travis Scott’s previous behaviour.

Even when the “crowd went out of control” and the “crowd mayhem ensued,” he continued to play, according to the report.

Breathing problems

Ben Crump, a well-known attorney, stated on Sunday that he had also filed a lawsuit against Scott and Astroworld.

Crump specialises on civil rights and personal injuries, and has represented victims of police violence such as George Floyd and Breonna Taylor’s families.

On behalf of Noah Gutierrez, a 21-year-old concertgoer who characterised the scene as “chaos and desperation,” he and co-counsel Bob Hilliard filed a lawsuit on Sunday.

During the week, the lawyers said they planned to file a lawsuit on behalf of other concertgoers.

“We’re hearing heartbreaking descriptions of people’s panic and powerlessness — the terror of a crush and the terrible agony of watching people die while attempting helplessly to save them,” Crump and Hilliard said in a statement.

“We strongly encourage anyone who was physically or emotionally harmed or witnessed the events of that day to contact us.”

Survivors recounted chaotic images of people pressed up against each other, many of whom were trying to breathe.

When Scott, who founded the Astroworld music event in 2018, observed fans in distress near the stage, he reportedly paused his performance numerous times.

Houston Police Chief Troy Finner told reporters on Saturday that authorities in Texas have launched a criminal investigation into the tragedy, which would include both homicide and narcotics detectives.

Authorities were reviewing camera footage and speaking with witnesses, concert organisers, and people who had been hospitalised, according to Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner.

On Saturday, he told reporters that the eight victims slain ranged in age from 14 to 27 years old, with one person’s age unknown.