11:23 AM PT -- The Houston PD Chief, Troy Finner, has just acknowledged his meeting with Travis Scott prior to Astroworld Fest capping off ... and he's shedding even more light on what was discussed.
Finner says he met with Trav and his security team briefly, to relay his concerns -- namely, his worries that public safety was going to be potentially compromised ahead of his headlining set. He adds, "[I]n my 31 years of law enforcement experience I have never seen a time with more challenges facing citizens of all ages, to include a global pandemic and social tension throughout the nation."
Statement from Police Chief @TroyFinner on #ASTROWORLDFest:#hounews pic.twitter.com/RouNcMErv2
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) November 8, 2021
The Chief goes on to explain that with this in mind, he asked Trav and co. to work with HPD over the weekend to be mindful of his team's social media messaging on any unscheduled events. He says their chat was brief and respectful ... and that he got his point across.
Finner never mentions that he advised Travis to cancel or end the show, something law enforcement has the power to do.
Chief Finner ends by saying the criminal investigation continues, and he asks for people to be considerate of the grieving families.
The Houston Police Chief was so concerned about crowd control at the Astroworld Festival, he went to Travis Scott's trailer to express concern over the "energy in the crowd."
Police Chief Troy Finner said the "energy" in anticipation of the festival had been escalating for months ... this according to the NY Times. The Chief attributed the energy to the pandemic, the fact that tickets went for hundreds of dollars and the event itself had a history of crowds that were difficult to control.
The Chief knew Travis personally and admired him for all the good work he did in Houston.
That said, it's clear the Chief was concerned about the swelling and anxious crowd.
The Chief may have gone to the trailer because some people who wanted to get in before the concert started knocking down barricades.
Sources connected to Travis tell TMZ ... the Chief never told Travis to pull the plug on the show. Furthermore, the sources say Travis was never told the stop the show prior to 10:10 PM -- more than an hour after the show began -- via his in-ear device. The sources go on to say the fire marshal was also mum.
Although Travis says because of the pyrotechnics, strobe lights and all, he couldn't see the scope of the calamity.
And, there's this ... our sources say at one point officers working the show near the stage were filming the concert on their cell phones ... in other words, not doing their jobs.
There was also this ominous sign ahead of the concert ... there was only 47 security personnel on-hand at the 2019 festival ... by contrast there was 528 security members at this event, underscoring the fear things could get out of control.
As we reported, 8 people died during the chaos, and hundreds were injured.
The fatalities from the event ranged from teens to young adults: a 14-year-old, a 16-year-old, two 21-year-olds, two 23-year-olds, a 27-year-old and a male whose age was unknown.
Travis Scott took to Instagram to share his sadness and condolences surrounding the event and that he was working with Houston PD. He's also vowed to refund festival tickets and has canceled an upcoming show in Vegas.
In addition to crowd control, Chief Finner said a security guard working the event felt a prick in his neck by an unknown assailant while he was trying to restrain a citizen -- and he quickly fell unconscious.
Finner says the guard was revived by use of NARCAN ... and that medical personnel did, indeed, see something on his neck that indicated he'd been stabbed with a syringe.
Originally Published -- 6:46 AM PT