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Astroworld: What is known about Travis Scott’s festival victims

Two high school students, a mechanical engineering technology student from Illinois, and a man who was trying to save his fiancee are among eight people who were trampled to death at the Astroworld festival in Houston, Texas, United States during last Friday night Thursday (5), authorities said.

Rapper Travis Scott released a video to his fans on Saturday (6) after confirmation of the deaths during his concert. Scott, who is a resident of Houston, said he was “devastated” and asked his fans to help authorities with any information they had about the incident.

“I want to send prayers for those who passed away last night. In fact, we are working to identify the families so that we can help them in this difficult time”, said the musician, in the video.

After the incident, members of the crowd described the situation as an escalation of unruly behavior throughout the day. As fans in the packed audience of about 50,000 pressed toward the stage, people began to fall unconscious, some apparently suffering cardiac arrest or other medical problems, officials told reporters.

Twenty-five people were taken to hospitals after the crushing episode, some of them cardiac, said Mayor Sylvester Turner. More than 300 people were treated at an emergency hospital set up near the festival. Most of the dead were between 14 and 27 years old. Police are investigating the causes of the turmoil that resulted in the deaths of the young people.

See what CNN knows about some of the victims:

John Hilgert, 14 years old

Hilgert was a high school student at Memorial High School in Houston, Spring Branch Independent School District Spokesperson Terry Abbott told CNN.

Memorial High School principal Lisa Weir sent a letter this Saturday (6) to the parents of students at the school about Hilgert’s death during the show.

“We are deeply saddened to report that a ninth grader died in an incident at the Astroworld festival. Our hearts go out to the student’s family, friends and our staff at Memorial. This is a terrible loss and every MHS family is in mourning today,” says Weir’s letter.

Brianna Rodríguez, 16 years old

Brianna was a high school student at Heights High School in Houston, according to a verified GoFundMe account established by her family.

“Dancing was her passion and now she is dancing to the gates of heaven,” says the post.

Franco Patiño, 21 years old

Patiño, a senior at the University of Dayton, was studying mechanical engineering technology and human movement biomechanics, according to a university statement.

He was a member of Alpha Psi Lambda, a fraternity of Hispanic interests, according to the statement, and was originally from Naperville, Illinois.

“He was loved by many for the loyal, loving, selfless, protective, fun and caring person he was,” his family said in a statement. “Even as a hardworking individual, he always tried to find time for his family and the people he cared about. We will miss Franco’s big heart and passion for helping others.”

Danish Baig, 27 anos

Baig lived in the town of Euless, Texas, died trying to save his fiancée, who was being trampled in the crowd at the show, his brother Basil Baig told CNN this Sunday (7).

His family said he was an amazing person they loved with all their hearts. “People admired him for what he was,” Basil Baig told CNN.

His funeral was held on Sunday in Colleyville, Texas, according to the brother.

Basil Baig said his brother’s fiancee survived, but she has bruises all over her body and is traumatized.

Jacob Jurinek, 20 years old

Illinois college student Jacob Jurinek was among eight people who died last Friday, according to a statement released by his university.

Jurinek was a journalism student at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU). In the statement, SIU Dean Austin Lane said that Jurinek “was a creative and intelligent young man with a promising career in journalism and advertising.”

Rodolfo Peña, 23 years old

Peña lived in Laredo, Texas, and attended Laredo College, according to his Facebook page. His older brother, Guadalupe Peña, opened a verified GoFundMe account for funeral expenses.

“I’m starting to raise funds for the passing of my younger brother (Rodolfo Angel Peña), please donate from the heart,” says the online fundraising post.

Peña was 23 years old, according to KTRK, an affiliate of CNN, who talked to his sister.

Unknown victim, 20 years old

The identity of one of the victims who was previously unknown to authorities has been determined, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner told CNN this Sunday.

The Harris County Institute of Forensic Science released a statement on Sunday asking for help in identifying a man in his 20s with “short, wavy hair, black or dark brown” and “a light mustache with a noticeable goatee.”

“This person was identified and his family was contacted,” Turner said.

Keith Allen, Rosa Flores, Andy Rose, Caroll Alvarado and Melissa Alonso, from CNN, contributed to this report.

(This text is a translation. To read the original, in Spanish, click here)

Reference: CNN Brasil

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