The parents and wife of a police lieutenant killed in the tragic collapse of a nightclub roof in the Dominican Republic have become the first to take legal action against the establishment's owners. Virgilio Rafael Cruz Aponte was among the 231 victims who perished when the ceiling of the Jet Set music venue fell during a concert last week. The Cruz Aponte family’s lawyer has filed manslaughter charges against the club’s owner and management, adding that other affected families are considering similar legal steps.
In the wake of the disaster, Jet Set's owner, Antonio Espaillat, has publicly pledged his full cooperation with ongoing investigations to determine the cause of the collapse. Investigators have indicated that the process could take several months, as they unravel the events leading up to the tragedy.
The Cruz Aponte family has also directed accusations at local government officials for allegedly failing to ensure the nightclub's adherence to safety regulations. Recently, the Interior Ministry announced that the death toll rose to 231, with five additional casualties succumbing to injuries.
During the collapse, 189 attendees were rescued from the wreckage of the venue, where a performance by merengue star Rubby Pérez drew a crowd on that fateful evening. Pérez and a saxophonist from his band tragically lost their lives, while Pérez's daughter, Zulinka, who was a backing singer, managed to escape with her life.
The tragic event reverberated beyond the borders of the Dominican Republic, impacting communities with large Dominican populations, notably in New York City. In a show of solidarity, New York Mayor Eric Adams traveled to Santo Domingo to visit the disaster site. He described the Dominican residents of New York as family and voiced his deep compassion during this time of grief, stating, “What do family members do during times of mourning? They mourn with you.”
In the wake of the disaster, Jet Set's owner, Antonio Espaillat, has publicly pledged his full cooperation with ongoing investigations to determine the cause of the collapse. Investigators have indicated that the process could take several months, as they unravel the events leading up to the tragedy.
The Cruz Aponte family has also directed accusations at local government officials for allegedly failing to ensure the nightclub's adherence to safety regulations. Recently, the Interior Ministry announced that the death toll rose to 231, with five additional casualties succumbing to injuries.
During the collapse, 189 attendees were rescued from the wreckage of the venue, where a performance by merengue star Rubby Pérez drew a crowd on that fateful evening. Pérez and a saxophonist from his band tragically lost their lives, while Pérez's daughter, Zulinka, who was a backing singer, managed to escape with her life.
The tragic event reverberated beyond the borders of the Dominican Republic, impacting communities with large Dominican populations, notably in New York City. In a show of solidarity, New York Mayor Eric Adams traveled to Santo Domingo to visit the disaster site. He described the Dominican residents of New York as family and voiced his deep compassion during this time of grief, stating, “What do family members do during times of mourning? They mourn with you.”
