Home / Disasters and Accidents / City College Stampede: 9 Dead, Diddy's Role Unveiled
City College Stampede: 9 Dead, Diddy's Role Unveiled
9 Dec
Summary
- Nine people died in a 1991 stampede at City College, New York.
- Thousands rushed a gymnasium that exceeded capacity by nearly double.
- Legal battles resulted in a $3.8 million settlement for victims' families.
In 1991, a highly anticipated charity basketball game at City College in New York, promoted by Sean "Diddy" Combs and Heavy D, ended in tragedy. Thousands of fans converged for the event, overwhelming the venue's capacity. An estimated 5,000 people sought entry into a gymnasium designed for just 2,730.
The situation escalated when attendees unable to enter the gym rushed a staircase. Trapped for approximately 15 minutes with doors closed, the dense crowd caused a devastating crush. This resulted in nine fatalities and nearly 30 serious injuries, with victims succumbing to suffocation and blunt force trauma.
Legal repercussions followed, with families filing lawsuits against Combs, Heavy D, and the college. In 1998, a settlement of $3.8 million was reached, with Combs contributing $750,000. A judge later assigned 50% liability to Combs and Heavy D for proximately causing the incident.
