A grand jury in Texas has decided that US rapper Travis Scott will not face criminal charges over the death of 10 people killed in a crush at the Astroworld music festival nearly two years ago.

The fatal crowd crush began after Scott took the stage at NRG Park in Houston, Texas for his Astroworld music festival on November 5th, 2021. Some 50,000 fans had packed in to the first night of his hometown festival, well over capacity for the event.

Though both the rapper and festival organizers appeared to acknowledge that something seemed wrong as the crowd pushed towards the stage, Scott finished his set and even brought out Drake as a surprise guest.

Lacking air and space, some fainted and were trampled on by the panicked crowd. Ten people, ranging in age from nine to 27, were killed by compressive asphyxiation.

pic.twitter.com/ijXKslw7E2

— TRAVIS SCOTT (@trvisXX) November 6, 2021

There were hundreds of lawsuits filed in the aftermath of the tragedy, including one seeking $750 million in damages against Scott, Drake, promoter Live Nation, Apple Music, and dozens of other defendants. In the latter suit, plaintiffs accused both artists and Live Nation of negligence.

Critics accused Scott and fellow rapper Drake of continuing to perform despite accounts of "lifeless bodies being passed through the crowd in full view of the stage". A local Houston fire chief said at the time that Scott should have ended the show much earlier.

Thursday's ruling concerns only criminal proceedings, meaning civil lawsuits can still proceed.

Scott is set to headline Longitude Festival in Dublin, where the Houston native will perform for thousands of listeners on the main stage this Sunday.