A criminal investigation has been opened after multiple concertgoers died and dozens of others were injured during rapper Travis Scotts’s performance at Astroworld Festival in Houston last week.

Authorities confirmed over the weekend that eight concertgoers died after the massive 50,000 person crowd surged forward, crushing attendees. The victims ranged in ages from 14 to 27.

Concertgoers who survived describe the event as harrowing and unlike anything they’ve ever experienced before. One attendee, Diana Amira, shared with NBC News, “Once Travis Scott came on, I told myself this is the moment I’ve been preparing for, I just need to breathe,” Amira said. “But ... my rib cage was so squished that I couldn’t expand my lungs to catch a breath.”

Officials explain that the first call about the event came in just after 9:00 p.m. Footage from the concert shows an ambulance coming through the tightly packed crowd toward the front of the stage to address a medical issue. At one point during his performance, Scott pauses the concert to call on security to help another individual who appeared to be in distress. Despite this, Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña shared on Saturday that at 9:38 p.m. a "mass casualty" event had been declared yet Scott continued to perform for at least 30 more minutes.

Multiple concertgoers describe that once Scott took the stage, the crowd compressed even more, suffocating those who were closer to the front of the stage. Throughout the weekend, video footage shot by concertgoers surfaced, detailing the chaos at the festival. By Sunday evening, the hashtag #Astroworld had over one billion views on TikTok.

Twenty-two-year-old concertgoer Tré Pixley shared a video of the chaos which racked up 5.2 billion views. He details, "Before I knew it, I had fallen with a group of other people. We were stuck screaming for help. ... In that moment, I was scared for my life."

Another viral video shows two concertgoers climbing a platform where a crew member was recording the performance. The two individuals can be heard begging the crew member to help because someone in the crowd was “dead in there.” The crew member appears to dismiss the pleas for help.

At least two lawsuits have been filed against Scott and concert organizer Live Nation. In one lawsuit, rapper Drake is also named as a party responsible for “inciting mayhem.” Both lawsuits were filed by concertgoers who describe being “severely injured” after the event. One complaint explains the harm as having been “predictable and preventable.” It is expected that more complaints will come forward.

Scott’s History with Chaotic Concerts

Scott’s reputation of encouraging rowdiness and aggression at his concerts has come under increased scrutiny after his Astroworld performance.

In 2015, Scott took the stage at the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago where he was arrested after he encouraged concertgoers to jump over barriers and rush the stage. “Middle finger up to security right now!” Scott shouted into the microphone. Scott was quickly arrested after his stunt, which led a 15-year-old to be trampled. Scott pled guilty to the charges and was ordered to serve a year of probation.

In 2017, Scott faced a similar charge after he was accused of inciting a riot during a concert in Arkansas. In that case, Scott pled guilty to disorderly conduct in exchange for more serious charges getting dropped.

Just weeks after his Arkansas performance, Scott was sued after 23-year-old concertgoer Kyle Green was pushed from a third-story balcony during another one of Scott’s performances. Scott can be heard encouraging the concertgoer to jump off the balcony. “Don’t be scared,” Scott says, “They're going to catch you,” he encouraged Green. Green fell into the crowd, breaking several bones and vertebrae. The fall left him wheelchair-bound for an extensive period and Green remains partially paralyzed.

In a statement shared through Twitter, Scott shares, “I am absolutely devastated by what took place last night.” He adds “Houston PD has my total support as they continue to look into the tragic loss of life. I am committed to working together with the Houston community to heal and support the families in need.”