Relatives of 11 victims killed in the March 28, 2025, collapse of the Blue Moon nightclub in Santo Domingo are demanding homicide charges against owners Juan Pérez and Maria Gómez, alleging negligence caused the tragedy, per Listín Diario.
The incident, which injured 22 others, occurred when a structural beam failed during a concert, trapping 200 patrons, Dominican police reported. A preliminary probe found the club, built in 2010, lacked updated permits and ignored 2024 safety warnings, per the Ministry of Public Works.
The victims’ families, led by lawyer Ana Morales, filed a motion Tuesday, seeking manslaughter and reckless endangerment charges, which carry up to seven years, per Dominican penal code. “This wasn’t an accident—it was preventable,” Morales said, citing 80% of inspected clubs failing safety checks, per 2024 municipal data.
Pérez and Gómez, detained since April 1, face lesser fines but deny wrongdoing, claiming a “freak structural fault.” Prosecutors expect a May hearing, as public outrage grows, with 5,000 petition signatures demanding stricter venue regulations, per El Caribe.