Sean “Diddy” Combs was convicted on two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution, bringing back memories of the 1991 City College tragedy that claimed nine lives, including his brother Dirk. Jason Swain, a filmmaker and survivor of the stampede, recalled being shown a Polaroid of his deceased brother with open eyes at the crime scene.
Combs was cleared of more serious racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking counts but faces up to 20 years in prison on the transportation charges. The case stems from allegations that Combs led a criminal enterprise using threats, violence, forced labor, bribery, and other crimes to force ex-girlfriends into sex acts with male escorts.
The tragedy occurred during an AIDS education benefit at City College of New York, where thousands attended a charity basketball game featuring prominent figures in the music industry. Combs, then known as Puff Daddy, was accused of leaving the event planning to inexperienced associates and misleading attendees about the charitable nature of the game.
The cause of death for each victim was asphyxia due to compression of the chest, with no broken bones found in any of the deceased. The 1992 report on the incident cited a failure of responsibility among all parties involved, including Combs.
Combs has never fully accepted responsibility for the deaths and has instead focused on his career, even releasing a song titled “Pain” nearly six years after the stampede, which mentioned the victims. Survivor Charrisse Miles believes Combs’ behavior is narcissistic and that he is only concerned with his own freedom.
The conviction has sparked mixed reactions from those involved, with some expressing relief and others feeling that justice was not served fully. As Combs faces sentencing, many are left wondering why it took so long for him to be held accountable for the tragic event that changed their lives forever.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/05/us/city-college-stampede-diddy-ny