Family of victim demands manslaughter charges after deadly Jet Set nightclub collapse

Legal filing seeks accountability for nightclub owners and authorities after the tragic collapse that killed 231 people during a concert in Santo Domingo.

A man holds a banner reading "Justice" in Spanish as friends and relatives pay tribute to the victims in front of the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo on April 12, 2025. Photo by Eddy Vittini/AFP

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

The devastating collapse of the Jet Set nightclub roof in the Dominican Republic, which tragically claimed the lives of 231 people, has sparked outrage and calls for justice. The family of Virgilio Cruz, one of the victims, is now seeking manslaughter charges against the nightclub's owners, accusing them of negligence that directly contributed to the disaster. This legal move, which was filed with Dominican prosecutors on Tuesday, has highlighted the chain of events that led to the catastrophic incident and the responsibility of both the nightclub owners and state institutions.

The tragedy unfolded last Tuesday, as hundreds of concert-goers gathered to see merengue star Rubby Pérez perform. As the night went on, disaster struck when the roof of the aging nightclub suddenly gave way, sending debris and rubble crashing down onto the crowd below. The horrific incident has now been labeled as the deadliest disaster in the country’s history in decades. The collapse of the roof has left the nation in mourning, as both local and international communities are reeling from the scale of the catastrophe.

In a legal filing submitted this week, the widow and parents of Virgilio Cruz—one of the 231 victims—called for involuntary manslaughter charges to be brought against the owners of the nightclub. According to the family, the owners of the Jet Set nightclub were negligent in their maintenance and safety practices, contributing to the structural failure that led to the collapse. The family also laid part of the blame on Dominican authorities for their failure to ensure the nightclub’s safety and operational standards.

The complaint filed with prosecutors claims that the Jet Set nightclub’s owners did not take appropriate measures to address the risks associated with the aging building. They allege that the club had been inadequately repaired after a recent fire, and the building's structural integrity had been further compromised by “undue loads,” including heavy air conditioning units placed on the roof. The filing goes further, stating that these issues were ignored by the nightclub’s management, which allowed the venue to continue operating despite clear safety risks.

Structural neglect and the role of authorities

The Dominican government’s failure to adequately inspect and regulate the nightclub also comes under scrutiny in the legal complaint. The family of Virgilio Cruz argues that state institutions and local authorities did not fulfill their legal duties of supervision, inspection, and authorization of operations for establishments open to the public. According to the filing, the lack of oversight by the authorities contributed directly to the conditions that made the collapse possible.

The nightclub, a well-known landmark in Santo Domingo for over five decades, had been the site of numerous performances, including the fateful concert by Rubby Pérez, which ended in disaster. Despite its age and wear, the club had not undergone the necessary safety renovations to address the inherent risks posed by its outdated infrastructure. With the failure of public institutions to regulate such establishments, the tragedy was, in the family’s view, both predictable and preventable.

The complaint also points out that the Jet Set nightclub had been exposed to serious safety issues due to the building’s age, including a fire that had damaged parts of the structure in recent years. The owners, the family claims, were aware of these risks but did nothing to address them, and instead, continued to operate the nightclub without proper safety measures in place.

The aftermath of the collapse

The aftermath of the Jet Set nightclub collapse has been nothing short of harrowing. More than 300 rescue workers, assisted by sniffer dogs, worked for days to search through the wreckage of the building. Their efforts were met with some success, as 189 people were rescued alive from the piles of twisted steel and rubble. However, the overwhelming scale of the disaster meant that hundreds of others were not as fortunate.

Aerial images of the site, taken in the wake of the collapse, reveal a scene resembling the aftermath of an earthquake, with the once-bustling nightclub reduced to a pile of debris. The collapse occurred in the early hours of the morning, just as Pérez was performing. Social media footage from the event showed the club suddenly plunging into darkness as the roof gave way, followed by the horrific sounds of crashing metal and glass, and the panicked screams of those trapped inside.

Among the high-profile victims of the collapse was Rubby Pérez himself, a beloved figure in the merengue music world. Pérez, who was 69 years old, died in the collapse along with several others, including two retired Major League Baseball players and a provincial governor. The deaths of such prominent figures have only amplified the impact of this disaster, both within the Dominican Republic and abroad.

The victims' families, along with the wider public, are demanding justice for those lost in the collapse. Authorities have already launched an investigation into the causes of the disaster, and a commission of national and international experts has been appointed to look into the failure of both the nightclub’s owners and government authorities.

The international scope of the tragedy

The tragedy at the Jet Set nightclub has also garnered international attention, as victims from multiple countries were caught in the disaster. Preliminary reports indicated that the victims included foreign nationals, with an Italian citizen and two French nationals among those killed. The US State Department also confirmed that several Americans were among the victims. As details continue to emerge, the scope of the tragedy is becoming ever more apparent, with the international community rallying around the Dominican Republic in solidarity with the victims' families.

The pursuit of justice

In the wake of this catastrophe, the family of Virgilio Cruz and others who lost loved ones are seeking justice. The legal complaint filed against the nightclub owners and state institutions is just the beginning of what is expected to be a lengthy process. While the owners have vowed to cooperate with investigators, the ultimate outcome of the case remains uncertain.

In the meantime, the Dominican Republic faces the difficult task of rebuilding both physically and emotionally from the worst disaster in its history. The government has promised to hold those responsible accountable, and the family of Virgilio Cruz, along with the other victims, hopes that the pursuit of manslaughter charges will serve as an important step toward justice.

The Jet Set nightclub collapse is a stark reminder of the potential dangers posed by negligent safety practices and inadequate oversight. The tragedy has sparked a broader conversation about the responsibility of business owners, government authorities, and public institutions in ensuring the safety of those who gather in public spaces. For the families who have lost loved ones, the fight for justice is only beginning, and their hope is that those responsible will be held accountable for this unimaginable loss.