Drakeo the Ruler’s son has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Live Nation—the organizer of the music festival where the Los Angeles rapper was fatally stabbed during a backstage altercation at Once Upon a Time in L.A. Caiden Caldwell, who is 5 years old, filed the suit through his mother Tianna Purtue. In addition to Live Nation, the lawsuit names C3 Presents, Bobby Dee Presents, Los Angeles Football Club (owners of Banc of California Stadium), and Jeff Shuman as defendants.
The lawsuit alleges that Live Nation and the other defendants “were completely knowledgeable of the potential dangers posed to both their guests and the performers they hired based on numerous past incidents of violence and death at their hip hop events.” It specifically notes that the Astroworld tragedy occurred one month earlier.
The complaint argues that if the defendants “placed the safety and wellbeing of its guests and its invited artists ahead of profits, there would have been an adequate security plan and sufficient security guards and law enforcement presence to have prevented the unnecessary and untimely murder of Drakeo the Ruler at the hands of over 100 deadly gang members who inexplicably gained access to a restricted area of the venue engaging in an unrelenting and unprevented attack for over 10 minutes.”
The incident is described in the lawsuit as an initial altercation between Drakeo’s team—an entourage diminished by event protocols that reportedly left the rapper with one unarmed personal security guard—and a handful of assailants. The complaint claims that the altercation built to the point where “many dressed in all red and wearing ski masks” attacked the rapper, resulting in a fatal stab wound to his neck.
Caldwell’s lawyers note in the complaint that Drakeo was wearing a blue bandana at the time of his death, but was “not and never has been a member of any gang” and was “constantly being challenged by various gangs for his refusal to ‘choose’ a side.” The lawsuit argues that members of the Bloods rejected Drakeo’s acquittal for murder of a member of the Bloods and that “it had been widely known to the public” that they were looking to “exact ‘street justice’” on Drakeo.
It also notes a public feud between Drakeo and YG, who also performed at the event, while adding “there is no evidence to indicate that YG had anything to do with the events” that led to Drake’s death. A representative for YG told The New York Times that the rapper has not been questioned by police about the incident. The lawsuit argues that Drakeo’s “very public feud” with the gang meant promoters “should have known” that his safety was at risk.
There’s a list in the lawsuit outlining what are argued as the many ways the defendants were negligent: inadequate security backstage and in artist spaces, no police presence, no list of people with backstage access, no thorough searches of performers and their guests, failure to keep out unauthorized individuals, and failure to provide personal security to Drakeo.
Caldwell is seeking $25 million or more in non-economic damages for life without his father, $25 million or more in economic damages for loss of earnings and financial support, $10 million or more for Drakeo’s suffering prior to his death, as well as additional damages and expenses.
Pitchfork has reached out to representatives for Live Nation, C3 Presents, Bobby Dee Presents, Los Angeles Football Club, and Jeff Shuman for comment and more information.
