Five rescuers face charges for stage collapse at political event
More than a year after the disaster that occurred during a political event of the Citizen Movement in San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León, five Civil Protection brigade members – both state and municipal – have been formally accused for their alleged responsibility in the incident that claimed the lives of 10 people and left more than 200 injured.
Details of the charge
The Attorney General’s Office identified those involved through an official statement: two belonging to the State Civil Protection (Alberto “N” and José “N”) and three assigned to the municipality (Gustavo “N”, Marisela “N” and Javier “N”). An Agent of the Public Prosecutor’s Office charged them with the crimes of wrongful homicide and injuries due to negligence, requesting their involvement in the process.
The defense lawyers for the state officials asked the judge to define the legal situation of their clients, while the representatives of the municipal rescuers requested more time to present evidence in their favor. The judge granted an extension and scheduled a new hearing for August 8.
Precautionary measures and advances in investigation
During the initial hearing, the judge imposed the obligation on the defendants to report monthly to the authorities and established a period of 90 days to conclude the complementary investigation. At the same time, the Prosecutor’s Office reported that four employees of Proaudio, the company in charge of setting up the stage, did not appear to testify.
The accident occurred on May 22, 2024 during the campaign closing event of Lorenia Canavati, then candidate for mayor for Movimiento Ciudadano, and which was attended by former presidential candidate Jorge Álvarez Máynez. Strong gusts of wind caused the structure to collapse, generating one of the most serious tragedies in recent public events.
Context and implications
This case has revived the debate about security protocols at mass events and the responsibility of the authorities in charge of supervising them. Risk management experts point out that, although meteorological phenomena are unpredictable, emergency teams must guarantee prior structural evaluations and contingency plans.
The accusation of rescuers – whose work is usually associated with heroism – has generated controversy, as some sectors argue that they are looking for culprits without considering systemic failures. On the other hand, the victims and their families demand justice, highlighting that negligence in supervision cannot go unpunished.
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