Return to Transcripts main page
Live From...
Club Stampede
Aired September 23, 2003 - 13:15 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: When people were crushed to death, and who can forget a stampede at a Chicago nightclub last February? Now the club's owner, his partner and two others are facing involuntary manslaughter charges.
Our Chicago bureau chief Jeff Flock joins us now with the latest -- Jeff.
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, Miles. The Cook County prosecutor did not forget about it. They've been working on the case for a while. You'll remember the big disaster, the E2 nightclub in Chicago.
Let's take you back now, February 17th, 2003, early morning hours. It was a disaster by anyone's estimation, taking a look at the pictures of people. After inside the club, someone apparently sprayed pepper spray after a riot -- or after a fight broke out there, and all hell broke loose, according to the folks that were inside. People panicked, trying to get outside of that club.
What happened is, as you can see there perhaps from the pictures, people started piling up in a long, steep stairwell, body on top of body. When it was done, 21 people dead, either asphyxiated or crushed. Well, today the owners of the club, one man who owns the club, a silent partner, as well as a man believed to be the manager of the club, and the man that promoted the party that was going on there the night it all took place, have been all charged with involuntary manslaughter, multiple counts of involuntary manslaughter. That carry as mentality of potentially probation, up to five years in prison.
We've also got pictures of the investigation after, and this has taken a while. If we can go to the other pictures of the investigation. You know, there will be obviously civil suits that will be brought here as well. But prosecutors have also been working to look -- take a look at videotapes like this from inside the club to determine what happened.
According to a prosecutor today in court, these deaths were due to the reckless behavior of these defendants. E2, the nightclub was packed to more than four times safe capacity when that fight broke out.
So now it goes to court. These men are now free on bond. The next appearance, the 14th of next month. Obviously, Miles, folks have not forgotten about this disaster here, and now some folks may have to pay.
Back to you.
O'BRIEN: CNN's Jeff Flock in Chicago.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired September 23, 2003 - 13:15 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: When people were crushed to death, and who can forget a stampede at a Chicago nightclub last February? Now the club's owner, his partner and two others are facing involuntary manslaughter charges.
Our Chicago bureau chief Jeff Flock joins us now with the latest -- Jeff.
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, Miles. The Cook County prosecutor did not forget about it. They've been working on the case for a while. You'll remember the big disaster, the E2 nightclub in Chicago.
Let's take you back now, February 17th, 2003, early morning hours. It was a disaster by anyone's estimation, taking a look at the pictures of people. After inside the club, someone apparently sprayed pepper spray after a riot -- or after a fight broke out there, and all hell broke loose, according to the folks that were inside. People panicked, trying to get outside of that club.
What happened is, as you can see there perhaps from the pictures, people started piling up in a long, steep stairwell, body on top of body. When it was done, 21 people dead, either asphyxiated or crushed. Well, today the owners of the club, one man who owns the club, a silent partner, as well as a man believed to be the manager of the club, and the man that promoted the party that was going on there the night it all took place, have been all charged with involuntary manslaughter, multiple counts of involuntary manslaughter. That carry as mentality of potentially probation, up to five years in prison.
We've also got pictures of the investigation after, and this has taken a while. If we can go to the other pictures of the investigation. You know, there will be obviously civil suits that will be brought here as well. But prosecutors have also been working to look -- take a look at videotapes like this from inside the club to determine what happened.
According to a prosecutor today in court, these deaths were due to the reckless behavior of these defendants. E2, the nightclub was packed to more than four times safe capacity when that fight broke out.
So now it goes to court. These men are now free on bond. The next appearance, the 14th of next month. Obviously, Miles, folks have not forgotten about this disaster here, and now some folks may have to pay.
Back to you.
O'BRIEN: CNN's Jeff Flock in Chicago.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
