Kylie Rancor
Nine-year-old Ezra Blount has died after succumbing to injuries sustained during the crowd surge during Astroworld Festival, making him the youngest victim of the event so far.
Blount’s story initially went viral after his father, Treston, launched a GoFundMe to help pay for his medical bills while he was in a medically-induced coma. Father and son had traveled to Houston to see Travis Scott, Blount’s favorite performer.
Treston had Ezra up on his shoulders to watch the concert when the fatal crowd surge began. He eventually passed out from the pressure, and Ezra fell into the mob and was trampled. When Treston woke up, the child had already been taken to a nearby hospital as a John Doe.
Ezra suffered injuries to multiple organs, including his kidney and lungs. He was in a coma until his death was reported on Sunday.
“The Blount family tonight is grieving the ultimate, incomprehensible loss of their precious young son,” attorneys for the family said in a statement. “This should not have been the outcome of taking their son to a concert, a joyful celebration. 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.”
Ezra’s family is one of many who have filed a lawsuit against Scott and others involved in the organizing of and security for the event. Ten people have now died, hundreds more were injured, and past issues with Scott’s concerts that resulted in injury and chaos have been the subject of public scrutiny.