Boston nightclub ICON faces license suspension after woman collapses and dies

Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald on Dec 24, 2025

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BOSTON — A woman has died after collapsing and becoming unresponsive in the nightclub ICON, according to the family and club, as Boston Police and the Boston Licensing Board are reviewing the tragic incident.

Anastaiya Colon fell to the floor while dancing in the club ICON shortly after midnight Sunday morning and had passed away as of Tuesday, family members said.

“Any loss of life in our community is a horrible tragedy and our condolences go out to the family and loved ones,” Mayor Michelle Wu said in a statement. “This situation remains under an active Boston Police investigation. Following this incident, our Office of Consumer Affairs and Licensing took immediate action suspending the business’ entertainment license.”

Colon’s sister Angelica Morales told Boston 25 they were out celebrating her birthday in the early hours of Sunday when all of a sudden Colon collapsed.

Bonell Stackhouse, the father to Colon’s son, posted on Facebook on Tuesday that she had “officially passed,” stating ICON’s “negligence and incompetence to control and clear a crowd for professionals ensured it was too late to save her.”

ICON’s management issued a statement Tuesday saying they were “deeply saddened by the medical emergency that occurred at our club early Sunday morning.”

“Our staff responded immediately and called emergency services while an off duty EMT rendered first aid, police and medical personnel arrived on scene, and the individual was transported to the hospital where they later passed away,” ICON stated. … “Our thoughts and condolences are with the individual’s family and loved ones.”

The club said they were “cooperating fully with all inquiries from law enforcement and city officials who are reviewing this medical episode.” The Boston Licensing Board will host a hearing on the future of ICON’s liquor license in the coming weeks.

Boston Police received a call regarding a unknown problem at 100 Warrenton St., at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday, according to a police report. Officers responded to the area, where they found a woman outside the club, “who stated her friend was on the floor inside Icon not breathing.”

The police were escorted into ICON by security and found the victim unresponsive on the floor surrounded by a gathered large crowd, the incident report stated. The officers tried to make a viable workspace around her but said the crowd began “encroaching on the officers’ workspace videotaping the incident.”

“Officers began to medically evaluate the victim … and requested EMS while also attempting to create more space,” the report stated, noting she was completely unresponsive, eyes fixed and pulseless.

A cashier approached saying she also worked as an EMT and began chest compressions, the police said. The cops reportedly continued to try to keep the crowd back, calling for more units and asking for an updated EMS status. The medical professionals arrived “a short while later.”

“Once more officers arrived on scene, officers were still unable to create a viable workspace for EMS,” the report said. “The (police) ultimately made the decision to close Icon and remove all patrons due to the crowd not complying with officers demands to give space for Boston EMS to work.”

Morales told Boston 25 she tried to get security to bring Colon outside after she collapsed to no avail and the DJ to stop the music, which he only did briefly.

The woman was taken to Tufts Medical Center for further evaluation, police said.

Colon’s sister and friend told hospital officers they had smoked before going to ICON and had a few drinks at the club before she collapsed.

Colon also had a heart condition, the sister and friend told officers.

City Councilor Ed Flynn posted a letter to the Licensing Board chair on X, calling the response the family received from the club “disturbing and unacceptable.”

“Reports indicated that when confronting a medical emergency, the DJ would only turn off the music for a couple minutes before turning it back on, as well as difficulty with the Boston Police being able to access the individual due to a lack of crowd control,” Flynn wrote.

The councilor requested a “full and thorough investigation into this troubling incident due to the reportedly negligent response from the licensee and management at this establishment.”

“(Colon) was the greatest mother to our son and her daughter,” said Stackhouse. “Wherever I fell, she compensated and gave me so much more grace than I deserve. Since I was 17, I will always appreciate the parenting journey and friendship we had together.”

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