Ex-cheerleader, 23, named as eighth Astroworld victim after boy, 14, and man who died saving relative identified
A FORMER cheerleader who "always lit up a room" was among eight people killed at the Astroworld Festival on Friday.
Diehard Houston Astros fan Madison Dubiski, 23, attended the concert with her younger brother Ty before they became separated during rapper Travis Scott's headline act.
He tried to pull her to safety, but she disappeared into the crowd, according to the
Madison's ex-classmate Lauren Vogler has paid tribute to the former cheerleader.
She told the Chronicle: “She was a devoted Astros fan and the type of person who was always there for her friends. She was definitely one of the ‘too glam to give a damn!’ kind of girls.
"She was definitely the life of the party and loved by so many people."
Madison's friend Riley Dimeo posted on Facebook: “Words will never be able to describe the pain of losing my best friend, secret keeper, sissy, and soulmate.
"I have never known such pure love and friendship until Madison came into my life and I’m not really sure how life will continue without her."
She continued: “She had a special way of making every single person she encountered in life feel special, appreciated, and no matter what.
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“I just know she is the most fabulous angel in Heaven. It was a true honor to call you my best friend and now my guardian angel. I love you forever. Until we meet again sissy girl.”
Madison worked in advertising and marketing and was a student at the University of Mississippi.
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All eight victims have now been identified by their family and friends.
Student Axel Acosta, 21, traveled from Washington state to watch the rapper perform in Houston.
His aunt Cynthia Acosta told : “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.”
Axel’s body has not been positively identified by coroners even though he has been named as one of the victims by his dad.
The youngest victim was positively identified as 14-year-old schoolboy John Hilgert.
TRAGEDY
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 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
'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
“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."
'THE SWEETEST PERSON'
Rudy Peña, from Laredo, was also among the victims, 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 festival has since been branded a “poorly managed” and “disorganized” event.
reported on Sunday that civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump are representing victims who are suing Scott and Live Nation following the disaster.
Crump is representing Noah Gutierrez who described the festival as a scene of “chaos and desperation” in the statement.
Gutierrez claims he and others in the VIP section had to lift people who were “screaming for help” on the floor.
Crump and co-counsel Bob Hilliard are expected to file on the behalf of other victims next week.
A lawsuit from concert-goer Manuel Souza called the incident “predictable and preventable”, according to court documents.
He claims that “red flags” were allegedly ignored by festival organizers.
He alleges that people climbed security gates as the festival was opening up and says that concert organizers made a conscious decision to continue the show even as people had “serious” injuries.
Fellow concert-goer Kristian Paredes claims that anyone who organized security for the event, including Scott, did a poor job of planning and keeping people safe.
'DISORGANIZED' EVENT
A source close to the artist says the rapper is bracing himself for what his team believes to be a class-action lawsuit.
Rapper 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 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?
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"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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