News November 15, 2021
9-Year-Old Astroworld Victim Ezra Blount Passes Away from Injuries

Ezra Blount, the 9-year-old boy who was injured and placed in a medically induced coma after attending Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival November 5 in Houston, has died — making him the 10th and youngest victim of the mass casualty event.
On Sunday, Ezra’s family confirmed to ABC13 Houston that the boy had passed days after he fell from his father Treston’s shoulders as concertgoers in the crowd of around 50,000 began surging toward the stage.
In a statement obtained by People, Ben Crump — an attorney for the Blount family who in part recently filed a lawsuit against Scott and others alleging negligence — said, “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.”
It 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.”
That day, Houston mayor Sylvester Turner also paid his respects in a message written on Twitter.
“I am saddened to learn of Ezra’s death this evening,” Turner wrote. “Our city tonight prays for his mom, dad, grandparents, other family members and classmates at this time. They will need all of our support in the months and years to come. May God give them strength. RIP Ezra.”
Earlier this month, Ezra’s grandfather Bernon Blount told the Houston Chronicle that Treston took Ezra to the concert as a bonding experience and had traveled to the festival from Tyler, Texas, to spend time with his son, who lives in Dallas with his mother.
Bernon also told ABC 13 Houston that Ezra was on Treston’s shoulders at the concert, but when the show grew chaotic, Treston passed out and fell. As a result, Ezra fell too and was trampled.
After Ezra had been taken to the hospital as a John Doe, family members eventually found him and discovered that he suffered major organ damage and brain swelling and was in a coma.
“How could this happen in the city of Houston? You know, when we go to concerts and different events, we expect safety and security,” Bernon told the outlet.
In their lawsuit against Scott and concert organizers, Ezra’s family allege that the young boy was “kicked, stepped on, and trampled, and nearly crushed to death” at the festival.
“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,” the complaint alleged.
Last week, Bharti Shahani, a 22-year-old Texas A&M University student who attended Scott’s concert with her sister and cousin, passed away after being declared brain dead from her injuries.
The other victims who have died are Mirza Baig, 27, Rodolfo Peña, 23, Madison Dubiski, 23, Franco Patiño, 21, Jacob Jurinke, 20, John Hilgert, 14, Axel Acosta Avila, 21, and Brianna Rodriguez, 16.
Last Thursday, People obtained a statement from Scott, who said he and his team have been “actively exploring routes of connection with each and every family affected by the tragedy through the appropriate liaisons.”
Scott added that he is “distraught by the situation and desperately wishes to share his condolences and provide aid to [the families] as soon as possible, but wants to remain respectful of each family’s wishes on how they’d best like to be connected.”
The incident is still under investigation by Houston officials.
Our condolences go out to everyone affected by this senseless tragedy.