No Criminal Charges Filed in Deadly Berkeley Balcony Collapse

No criminal charges will be filed following a nine-month investigation into a Berkeley, Calif., balcony collapse that killed six students and injured seven in June, officials said on Tuesday.

The announcement concluded an investigation that found many causes, including the rainy weather and types of building material used, likely contributed to the fifth-floor balcony collapse during a birthday celebration, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

“The responsibility for this failure likely extends to many of the parties involved in the construction or maintenance of the building,” Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley said in a statement, the Chronicle reported.

None of the materials used were prohibited by building code, she said. Families of the students had filed lawsuits contending that landlords ignored signs of rot and that builders used cheaper wood to construct the balcony and did not properly waterproof the deck.

“This is not a decision that I came to lightly,” O’Malley said. “It is the culmination of months of consultation with my team of attorneys. It follows extensive review of reports, both legal and factual, and numerous meetings with investigators and experts.”