The parents and wife of Virgilio Rafael Cruz Aponte, a police lieutenant who was among the 231 fatalities of last week's nightclub collapse in the Dominican Republic, have officially filed charges against the venue's owners. The Jet Set club, where the roof gave way during a packed merengue concert, has been the center of the investigation and legal actions in the wake of this tragedy.
Cruz Aponte's family has leveled manslaughter accusations against the owner, Antonio Espaillat, and the management team of the nightclub. They underscore their belief that both the club operators and local government neglected safety protocols that may have caused the catastrophic event. In the aftermath of the incident, which left over 189 people injured and hailed a national calamity, other victims’ families have also expressed intentions to file lawsuits.
Antonio Espaillat, the owner of Jet Set, stated in a video message his commitment to cooperating fully with ongoing investigations. Meanwhile, the toll continues to climb, with the interior ministry reporting that the number of deceased has now reached 231, following the deaths of additional victims succumbing to their injuries.
Among the deceased was renowned merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who performed at the nightclub during the collapse, along with a saxophonist from his band. Pérez's daughter, who served as a backing singer, was rescued from the debris, highlighting the chaos that ensued that fateful evening.
The tragedy resonates deeply within and outside the Dominican Republic, evoking a wave of grief in regions with sizable Dominican populations, such as New York City. New York Mayor Eric Adams paid a somber visit to the disaster site, expressing his solidarity with grieving families, emphasizing the shared bonds among communities during such devastating moments.
As the investigation into this tragic incident continues, the families of the victims are pushing for accountability and improved safety regulations to prevent similar disasters in the future.
