Vigil honors victims of fatal nightclub roof collapse in Dominican Republic

HARLEM, N.Y. (PIX11) -- A solemn prayer vigil took place on Wednesday night in Harlem.

Clergy gathered to remember the victims of the deadly roof collapse in the Dominican Republic. This happened as the first known lawsuit against the owners of the nightclub, the Dominican government, and the Santo Domingo mayor’s office was filed.

Reverend Felipe Ayala Jr is of Dominican Descent. He, along with other Harlem clergy, gathered on Wednesday evening to pray for the 231 victims of the deadly roof collapse in the Dominican Republic. On April 8th, tragedy struck the JetSet Nightclub when the roof collapsed during a merengue concert headlined by Rubby Pérez. More than 400 people were in attendance.

"We are making sure they know they are being lifted up from all the way from the U.S.," said Reverend Felipe Ayala Jr. from Life Changes Church and Ministries. "Our community is strong, the DR community here in NYC is strong."

Reverend Robert Rice from Bethel Gospel Assembly added, "We are coming together as Harlem chaplains’ pastors to say we stand with you, Dominican Republic."

The small prayer vigil happened as the family of one of the victims took legal action following the deadly nightclub collapse. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and a criminal conviction for involuntary manslaughter against the club’s owners.

"We are not only praying for the victims, but with their family," said Pastor Joshua Jay Mercado from Disaster Response Ministries International. "If you do the math, it's over a 1000 of them together… so that’s why we are here to pray for them."

This week, President Luis Abinader confirmed currently there isn’t an agency to oversee the construction of private businesses like the nightclub, adding his administration is working on a bill to change that. 

"We don’t need to be immediate family to lift those families in prayers and to stand in god for those family members," said local resident Kyle Melendez.

The nightclub owner says he is actively cooperating with the investigation, as the Dominican government launched an investigation with international experts to determine exactly what caused the roof to collapse.