The family of Virgilio Cruz, one of the 231 victims killed when the roof of a popular nightclub collapsed in the Dominican Republic, is demanding justice through manslaughter charges. On Tuesday, they filed a formal complaint accusing the Jet Set nightclub’s owners of negligence in the building’s safety design and unauthorized structural changes.
According to the filing, the collapse was not a freak accident but the result of repeated failures by both the establishment’s management and Dominican public institutions. The family claims the club’s owners ignored critical safety responsibilities, while government agencies failed to properly inspect or regulate the venue. The complaint further states that there’s enough evidence to indict the owners for involuntary manslaughter, and the family also plans to file a civil case against the state.
The nightclub, a 52-year-old staple of Santo Domingo’s nightlife, was hosting a packed concert featuring merengue legend Rubby Perez when the roof suddenly caved in. Perez, 69, was among those killed. The collapse, which authorities have called the nation’s deadliest disaster in decades, injured hundreds more and left the building a heap of twisted debris.
Jet Set’s owner, Antonio Espaillat, appeared before prosecutors and pledged full cooperation with the investigation. Meanwhile, the legal filing pointed to years of structural decay, fire damage, makeshift repairs, and excessive weight from rooftop equipment like air conditioning units as factors that led to the collapse. It also stated that both the club’s management and public regulators shared blame for allowing the venue to operate under unsafe conditions.
Rescue workers pulled 189 survivors from the rubble in a desperate days-long search, aided by sniffer dogs and heavy equipment. The government has since launched a full investigation led by both local and international experts. Among the dead were foreign nationals, including an Italian, two French citizens, and several Americans, according to the U.S. State Department.
Social media footage captured the moment the tragedy struck. As Rubby Perez performed, the lights went out, followed by a thunderous crash and chaos. The venue, which had a 1,700-person capacity, collapsed in an instant, claiming lives that included not only music fans but also two former Major League Baseball players and a provincial governor. The Cruz family, like many others, is now left demanding accountability and answers.
