A security guard was injected in the neck at Travis Scott’s Astroworld festival and had to be revived using a medicine to treat opioid overdoses.
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner today confirmed that a security guard passed out after appearing to be injected in the neck with a needle.
A concert-goer is believed to have attacked the guard, who had to be revived using the drug Narcan, commonly used for overdoses on opioids, including heroin.
Speaking to reporters today, Mr Finner said the police were aware of a ‘narrative’ that a concert-goer was injecting unsuspecting members of the audience with drugs.
He confirmed they had received a report from medical staff at the festival that the guard was ‘reaching over to restrain a citizen and he felt a prick in his neck’.
The guard fell unconscious and was revived with Narcan, and medical staff ‘did notice a prick similar to a prick you would get if someone if trying to inject you’.
The chief went on to address the tragedy of the eight people who were killed during the concert, and pleaded with the public to give police time to properly undertake an investigation.
Eight people were killed on Friday when crowds at the festival in Houston, Texas surged towards the stage.
A 16-year old was killed in the incident, the city’s mayor Sylvester Turner revealed in a news conference, with a 14-year-old also believed to be among the dead.
The other victims included two 21-year-olds, two 23-year-olds and a 27-year-old, with the age of one other victim unknown.
Around 300 people were also injured in the tragedy, with two dozen rushed to hospitals, and CPR performed on at least 11, officials later confirmed.
Travis earlier today shared a statement of his sorrow at the tragedy, writing: ‘I’m absolutely devastated by what took place last night. My prayers go out to the families and all those impacted by what happened at Astroworld Festival.’
He said he was ‘committed to working together with the Houston community to heal and support the families in need.’
Questions have been raised about security at the event after videos emerged of crowds running breaking through a fence and running through security without being searched, with metal detectors falling down in the process.
Video footage captured before the eight people in the crowd were killed shows rapper Travis stopping the show to ask for help for an attendee who had collapsed.
The two-day festival had been due to continue today, but the organisers confirmed in a statement following the tragedy that the remainder of the Astroworld festival had been cancelled.
They wrote: ‘Our hearts are with the Astroworld family tonight, especially those we lost and their loved ones.
‘We are focused on supporting local officials however we can. With that in mind, the festival will no longer be held on Saturday.’
‘As authorities mentioned in their press conference earlier, they are looking into a series of cardiac arrests that took place. If you have any relevant information on this, please reach out to @HoustonPolice.
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MORE : Child aged 14 among eight dead at Travis Scott’s Astroworld festival