Student, 21, among Astroworld Festival victims including boy, 14, 27-year-old who gave life to save relative & dancer
A STUDENT who traveled to the Astroworld Festival alone was among at least eight people that were killed in the stampede. Axel Acosta, 21, died at the concert in Houston, Texas on Friday when the 50,000-strong crowd surged as rapper Travis Scott took to the stage. Cynthia Acosta, the student’s aunt, said he had traveled […]
A STUDENT who traveled to the Astroworld Festival alone was among at least eight people that were killed in the stampede.
Axel Acosta, 21, died at the concert in Houston, Texas on Friday when the 50,000-strong crowd surged as rapper Travis Scott took to the stage.
Cynthia Acosta, the student’s aunt, said he had traveled to Houston from Washington alone to see the rapper.
She told KTRK: “It was his first time going to an event like that.”
Axel, of Yakima County, was named as one of the victims by his dad Edgar Acosta – hours after cops released a photo of the 21-year-old as they asked for information.
Edgar became worried as his son didn’t return to his hotel room after the concert.
The 21-year-old was studying computer science at Western Washington University.
Melynda Huskey, the university’s vice-president of enrolment and student services, told KRTK: “By all accounts, Axel was a young man with a vibrant future. We are sending our condolences to his family on this very sad day.”
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Axel’s body has not been positively identified by coroners even though he has been named as one of the victims by his dad.
So far, seven of the eight victims have been identified by family members.
Read our Travis Scott Astroworld Festival live blog for the very latest news and updates…
The youngest victim has been positively identified as 14-year-old schoolboy John Hilgert.
Keen baseball player John was a freshman at Houston’s Memorial High School.
The school’s principal Lisa Weir said in a letter to parents: “Our hearts go out to the student’s family and to his friends and our staff at Memorial. This is a terrible loss, and the entire MHS family is grieving today.
“Please keep the student’s family in your thoughts and prayers as they face this tragedy.
“We will make counselors available to students next week to offer any help and support needed.”
John told his classmate Robby Hendrix, 15, on Friday that he wanted to get to the event early so he could get a good spot, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Hendrix’s mom Tracy Faulkner told the outlet: “Everything about that night was a tragedy. John was a good student and athlete and so polite. He was the sweetest and smartest young man.”
“They were both in the same place at the same time and one came home and one we will never see,” Faulkner said.
John’s baseball coach Justin Higgs also paid a tribute on Instagram.
He wrote: “RIP John Hilgert. He got the Call up to the Major Leagues by the Almighty! John made an impact on anyone who met him and they always remembered him. I have memories of John I’ll never forget.
‘AN ANGEL’
“You had to love the kid. No option not to cause he was who he was. He loved the game of baseball. Was a privilege to coach this young man. Many prayers go out to any of his friends, teammates, and his family… especially Ms. Hilgert.
“One of the nicest human beings I’ve ever met. John was an Angel the whole time I knew him… impacting others for good and he himself was a legend. The legend of John. Will meet again John. Till then watch over us my friend. Catcher, pitcher, shortstop, great kid. Lived his life to the fullest.”
Student Franco Patiño, 21, Danish Baig, 27, Brianna Rodriguez, 16, Jacob Jurinek, and Rudy Peña, 23, are also among the victims.
Danish’s brother described him as a “beautiful soul”, and revealed he died trying to save his sister-in-law.
Basil Baid, who was also at the festival, said the event had been “managed poorly”, and described people “pushing and shoving” in the chaos.
He wrote on Facebook: “My brother tried to save my sister-in-law from these horrendous acts that were being done to her in the process he lost his life.
“I am lost of words and in true trauma from this event. I was there and I wasn’t able to save my brother. People were hitting pushing and shoving.”
Basil also said his brother’s smile “would light up the room and that he put everyone before himself.
University of Dayton student Franco also lost his life at the concert, according to The Dayton Daily News.
‘HE’D LIGHT UP A ROOM’
The Illinois native was a member of Alpha Psi Lambda, a Hispanic interest fraternity, and he worked in an engineering co-op program, school officials reportedly said.
Houston schoolgirl, Brianna Rodriguez, 16, also perished in the disaster, according to People Magazine.
“Gone from our sites [sic], but never from our hearts,” her family wrote on Facebook.
“It is with profound sadness we lay to rest our beloved Brianna Rodriguez … Dancing was her passion and now she’s dancing her way to heaven’s pearly gates.”
Her aunt Iris Rodriguez said the teen’s mom and dad are “devastated” by the tragedy and cannot believe they have lost their “princess”.
She told The Sun: “We don’t know exactly what happened, what caused her death. We are waiting for the autopsy results.
“My sister-in-law had received a phone call that she was being taken to the hospital because she was not breathing.
“She said Brianna had gained her wings, I just remember screaming and I blacked out.”
TRAGIC LOSS
Rudy Peña, from Laredo, was also among the victims, The Laredo Morning Times reported.
His sister Jennifer told the outlet: “My brother was the sweetest person, friendly, outgoing, he had many friends because he was always there for everyone.”
The age of the eighth victim remains unknown. Scott has since spoken out since the tragedy.
In videos posted to Instagram on Saturday, the artist was overcome with emotion as he gave a statement about his actions during the tragic first night of the Astroworld Festival.
He said: “My fans really mean the world to me and I always wanna leave them with a positive experience and anytime I can make out anything that’s going on, I stop the show and help them get the help they need, you know?”
The rapper, whose real name is Jacques Bermon Webster II added that he is working with the proper authorities and is asking fans from the event to do the same.
He said: “If you have any information, please just contact your local authorities. Everyone continue to just keep your prayers.”
Kourtney Kardashian has since been branded as “tone deaf” for promoting her company Pooch after the concert tragedy.
She shared an ad about her company, which showed her in lingerie with black globes and holding a drink.
The words, “Your Poosh-Approved Christmas List,” were written over the snap.
One person wrote on Reddit: “God, maybe take a break from posting your vapid c**p for a day, Kourtney? You know, in light of what YOUR FAMILY is connected to?
“Edit: she’s not responsible duh but this is tone-deaf as f**k.”
And, Kris Jenner was ripped as “twisted” as she shared various photos of her birthday flowers amid the tragedy.
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