Tag: texas

Ezra Blount, at 9-years old, was the youngest victim of the Astroworld Festival tragedy. He sustained major injuries to his liver, brain, and kidney, tragically passing away after a coma. He was laid to rest in Texas on Nov. 23. Travis Scott, in an attempt to console the families, reached out to cover funeral costs, but the Blount family has declined the assistance of the rapper.

On Monday Nov. 29, XXL shared a statement enclosed with legal documents from Scott’s attorneys. Expressly, Bob Hilliard, the attorney representing Erza’s family, responded with a letter to La Flame’s attorney, Daniel Petrocelli.

The letter from Blount’s family in response to Travis Scott’s offer

Dear Mr. Petrocelli,

The loss of a child is like a faucet of unimaginable pain that has no off handle. To lose a child in the manner Treston lost Ezra compounds the pain as a parent, Treston cannot help but agonize over the terrible idea that Ezra’s last minutes were filled with terror, suffering, suffocation and worst of all surrounded by strangers, his dad unconscious underneath the uncontrolled crowd.

I don’t know if you’re a father. I don’t know if your client is a father. If you are, then all you have to do is put your child at 9 years old in Ezra’s place and you both know what happens to your gut, at the most basic and instinctive level.

Your client’s offer is declined. I have no doubt Mr. Scott feels remorse. His journey ahead will be painful. He must face and hopefully see that he bears some of the responsibility for this tragedy. There may be, and I hope there is, redemption and growth for him on the other side of what this painful process will be—and perhaps one day, once time allows some healing for the victims and acceptance of responsibility by Mr. Scott and others, Treston and Mr. Scott might meet—as there is also healing in that. For now, Mr. Scott must respect the fact that his pain and his devastation pale to Treston’s, Ezra’s mom, and the other victims.

I thank you for your note and I offer the above respectfully and directly so as to be sure we share an understanding of the path ahead.

The tragic events of Astroworld

Clearly, the unexpected and preventable nature of Ezra Blount’s death has devastated his family. With this in mind, it is important to see the basis of their worry.

According to a statement from GoFundMe, Ezra’s father, Treston Blount, said other concertgoers crushed his son during the surge. Due to a lack of oxygen, he could not breathe. Blount said he fell with Ezra on his shoulders, passed out, and both were trampled by the crowd.

The 9-year-olds grandparents found him in the hospital following the event. CBS News reported the following statement on Sunday, from the family’s attorney:

“Ezra sustained life-threatening injuries and was placed in a medically induced coma on life support in an attempt to combat his brain, liver, and kidney trauma.”

“Ezra’s grandparents said they later found him alone at the hospital in a coma, suffering from significant organ damage and severe brain swelling.”

Travis Scott was Ezra’s favorite rapper. Although Scott may mean well, the Astroworld Festival has left many of his. biggest fans traumatized and devastated. One can only hope there he’ll respect the family’s wishes and take responsibility while they mourn the life of their innocent child.

If you missed anything regarding the tragic Astroworld Festival, catch up here.

Written by Antoinette Ford