The New York City College event claimed nine lives
Nine people died in the New York City College stampede in December 1991, including a Hampton University student. The victims’ ages ranged from fifteen to twenty-eight. All nine died from “asphyxia due to compression of the chest” because they were crushed.
USA Today recounts that Diddy sponsored a charity basketball game that sold out a week in advance. Tickets continued to be sold, and it was overbooked. A surge of people entering the building led to the stampede. Among those who died was Dirk Swain, 20, a junior at Hampton University.
Hampton Virginia student was crushed to death
His brother Jason Swain, a filmmaker, said the college gymnasium had a problem with security and crowd control when he attended an earlier event. He said Dirk died with his ticket in his pocket.
Jason acknowledged there were many people responsible that night, but Diddy would not open the doors so people could get out, left the nine victims on the stairs, and never owned up to his part in the tragedy.