Deadly Astroworld crowd surge claims its NINTH victim: Concertgoer, 22, died on Thursday

Bharti Shahani, a 22-year-old college senior from Texas, became the ninth victim of last week’s Astroworld festival in Houston after she died on Thursday from injuries sustained at the event during a deadly crowd surge. 

Shahani had been declared brain dead on Tuesday and was on a ventilator at Houston Methodist Hospital, where she was taken after the concert. It was the first festival Shahani had ever attended, her family said.  

In a press conference Thursday afternoon, Shahani’s distraught family shared the nightmare they lived searching in hospitals after losing touch with her, eventually finding her in critical condition at Houston Methodist.

Her father Sunny said: ‘It was the wrong day and the wrong time for her to go to the concert, Astroworld.’ 

‘Bharti used to take care of her whole family. Taking care of her younger sister, being like her mother, because my wife started working with me and supporting me in the business,’ her father said. 

‘It was her first festival, she wanted to have a good time. For the first time in her life, she wanted to have fun and that was taken away from her,’ her sister, Namrata Shahani, added.

Shahani’s family has said nobody has reached out to them after the disaster at Astroworld. The 22-year-old was a student at Texas A&M, where she had switched her major from chemical engineering to computer science, her father said.

Shahani’s father, Sunny, said: ‘It was the wrong day and the wrong time for her to go to the concert, Astroworld.’ Shahani’s mother, Karishma, was visibly upset as she recounted the emotional nightmare the family lived after losing touch with her daughter

‘It was her first festival, she wanted to have a good time. For the first time in her life she wanted to have fun and that was taken away from her,’  her sister, Namrata Shahani, said

Medics had told told Bharti’s family her chances of survival are ‘nothing,’ her distraught father previously told ABC13

She had attended Friday’s festival with her sister and cousin, who all got separated during the crowd rush.  

‘She was like an angel for us,’ Sunny said. ‘She was the head of the family. She was very nice to us. Always calm, always listened, and she had a bright future.

‘Only thing I request from you all is to please, please make sure you request justice. I do not want somebody else’s daughter to go like this,’ he added.

Speaking about the night of the concert, Shahani’s cousin Mohit Bellani said: ‘There are no words to describe what really happened, but that doesn’t seem right, that seems cliché… There are words. Words like nightmare, horror, barbarity and catastrophe. That’s what happened that night.’  

‘This was the first thing she asked me for herself,’ Shahani’s mother, Karishma, said Wednesday. 

‘And at first, I said, “No, no, no,” because we don’t go to concerts. We don’t even know what this concert is all about.

‘I know that concerts might be music, having fun, but this is not a concert, no. This was not a concert. I don’t know what it was. But this was not a concert, because my baby didn’t come back.’

Chaos at the concert in Houston ensued as thousands of people surged toward the stage and hundreds were injured in the crush

On Friday night, after the deadly crowd surge, fans pleaded with Travis Scott to stop the show. 

Nine people were killed at the NRG Stadium, more than 300 people received treatment at an emergency field hospital set up there, 11 others went into cardiac arrest and dozens more were knocked unconscious. 

Others whose deaths have been confirmed to various news outlets are 16-year-old Brianna Rodriguez and Rodolfo ‘Rudy’ Peña, 23. 

Peña was an aspiring model and had dreams of becoming a U.S. Border Patrol agent, according to USA Today.  

He drove five hours from Laredo to Houston with his friends to attend the show, where he died of cardiac arrest.  

His sister told the Laredo Morning Times: ‘My brother was the sweetest person, friendly, outgoing, he had many friends because he was always there for everyone. Yes, he was a big fan of Travis, he loved his music.’ 

Ambulances outside the venue on Friday night amid chaos

Other victims included University of Dayton student Franco Patino (left), 21, who was attending the event with his best friend, 20-year-old Jacob Jurinek (right), when both were trampled to death 

Madison Dubiski (left) is among the nine people who were killed in the ensuing frenzied stampede as rapper Scott continued with his set for at least another 30 minutes. Axel Acosta,(right) 21, had traveled from Washington to attend the festival – his first concert. Cops shared a photo of his body after they were unable to identify him

Sixteen-year-old Brianna Rodriguez was a dancer and a junior in high school. 

‘Gone from our sites, but never from our hearts,’ her wrote family on Facebook. 

Her family started a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses. It has raised $8,910 out of its $30,000 goal.   

Other victims included University of Dayton student Franco Patino, 21, who was attending the event with his best friend, 20-year-old Jacob Jurinek, when both were trampled to death. 

Jurinek had bought the tickets six months before the show to celebrate his upcoming 21st birthday on November 20. 

The two young men grew up together in Naperville, Illinois, met in elementary school and were reuniting at the concert to celebrate. 

‘They met in elementary school [in Naperville] and were best friends every step of each other lives,’ Franco’s brother Cesar Patino told reporters.    

Danish Baig, 27, was killed after trying to save a relative during the stampede at the concert, his brother Basil Baig confirmed on Facebook. 

‘My brother was killed in this horrendous Astroworld event that was managed poorly and supervised by such horrible people,’ Basil wrote on Facebook. 

He commended his late brother for his ‘courageous act’ and called him a ‘beautiful soul.’   

Rodolfo ‘Rudy’ Pena, 23,(left), was an aspiring model and dreamed of one day being a US Border Patrol agent. He died of cardiac arrest. Brianna Rodriguez (right) was a dancer and junior in high school. On Saturday her family confirmed that she was one of the nine victims who died

Around 2pm hundreds of fans stormed the festival’s VIP entrance. About seven hours later the surge in front of the main stage killed nine people but the two events appear to be unrelated

John Hilgert, 14, the youngest victim of the tragedy, was a ninth grader at Memorial High School in Houston and was remembered as a talented baseball player, as well as a popular student.  

Hilgert was pictured at the same time as Houston’s medical examiner shared a photo of another male victim’s body they were unable to identify.

That man’s family has since come forward, and he has been identified as Axel Acosta, 21, KTRK reported. 

Madison Dubiski, of Cypress, and her younger brother Ty were at the concert in Houston, Texas, together on Friday night. 

They were physically pulled apart during the show, and as Ty tried to pull her to safety, Madison was sucked into the crowd, according to the Houston Chronicle. 

Dubiski is among the nine people who were killed in the ensuing frenzied stampede as rapper Scott continued with his set for at least another 30 minutes, ignoring pleas from panicked concertgoers to stop the music. Hundreds of people were injured and at least 13 are still being treated in hospital. 

Travis Scott is seen for first time outside his $14m mansion: Team of lawyers flock to rapper as 150 plaintiffs threaten to take him for BILLIONS

On Thursday Travis Scott was seen for the first time since last week’s Astroworld disaster pacing outside his $14million Houston mansion where he’s hiding out with girlfriend Kylie Jenner, DailyMail.com can reveal.

Travis, real name Jacques Webster, was spotted on the phone, wrapped in an Hermes blanket and pacing with his back turned to the cameras as it’s revealed another victim died Thursday, bringing the death toll from the crowd surge to nine. 

Bharti Shahani, a 22-year-old college student from Texas, succumbed to her injuries sustained at last week’s festival after being declared brain dead on Tuesday. 

On Wednesday afternoon, Travis’ top-notch legal team led by high-powered attorney Neal Manne arrived at the gated mansion as several lawsuits with at least 150 plaintiffs have come flooding in against the rapper and Live Nation Entertainment. 

Manne and three other attorneys were met by Travis’ security team and quickly ushered inside, where they stayed for about 45 minutes. 

Travis has been holed up at the home with 24-hour security and at least five security guards since last Friday’s tragedy.

Travis Scott is seen for the first time since last week’s Astroworld disaster pacing outside his $14million Houston mansion where he’s hiding out with girlfriend Kylie Jenner, DailyMail.com can reveal 

Travis, real name Jacques Webster, was spotted on the phone and pacing with his back turned to the cameras on Tuesday 

Not many know about Travis’ mansion in his hometown of Houston’s trendy museum district. He bought the 12,042 sq ft home in 2019 under the name Trapp Trust, according to county records

His top-notch legal team headed by high-powered attorney Neal Manne were seen arriving at the mansion

Manne and three other attorneys were met by Travis’ security team and quickly ushered inside, where they stayed for about 45 minutes

Travis Scott is being sued by at least 150 victims for ‘inciting mayhem’ and stand to lose ‘billions’ after more than 300 people were treated at an emergency field hospital in the aftermath, 11 others went into cardiac arrest and dozens more were knocked unconscious. 

Powerhouse Texas attorney Thomas J. Henry said his firm is being contacted by ‘more and more’ injured people by the hour and ‘the damages suffered by [the Astroworld tragedy’s] victims could total in the billions.’ 

Travis’ attorney Neal Manne is a managing partner at Susman Godfrey in Houston and according to the company’s website, he was named attorney of the year in Texas for 2017.

Manne represented death row inmates on a Pro Bono basis and reportedly charges up to $2,000/ hour.   

Not many know about Travis’ mansion in his hometown of Houston’s trendy museum district. He bought the 12,042 sq ft home in 2019 under the name Trapp Trust, according to county records.  

The three bedroom, six bathroom house is located less than four miles from where the deadly Astroworld festival was held. 

This comes as it’s revealed Travis and Drake partied together after the concert and the families of the victims say his apology isn’t enough. 

VICTIMS OF TRAVIS SCOTT’S ASTROWORLD FESTIVAL

Nine people died on Friday at Travis Scott’s music festival in Houston, Texas, with the victims ranging in age from 14 to 27.

John Hilgert, 14 

John Hilgert, 14 

John Hilgert, of Hunters Creek Village, was identified as one of the concert fatalities on Saturday by officials at Memorial High School, where he was a freshman student.

Hilgert attended Friday’s concert with his long-time friend Robby Hendrix, 15.

Henrdix’s mother, Tracy Faulkner, bought her son’s ticket for his birthday and ‘ultimately regrets the decision’.

‘Everything about that night was a tragedy,’ Faulkner told the Houston Chronicle. ‘They were both in the same place at the same time and one came home and one we will never see.’

She said Hilgret and Hendrix had known each other for years and played football together.

‘John was a good student and athlete and so polite. He was the sweetest and smartest young man,’ she shared.

Brianna Rodriguez, 16 

Brianna Rodriguez, 16

Brianna Rodriguez was a dancer and junior in high school. On Saturday her family confirmed that she was one of the nine victims who died.

A GoFundMe account set up by her family described her as a ‘beautiful vibrant 16-year-old’.

‘Dancing was her passion and now she’s dancing her way to heaven’s pearly gates.’ 

Jacob Jurinek, 20

Jacob Jurinek attended the concert with his best friend Franco Patino when both were trampled to death. The pair grew up in the same Illinois town of Naperville.  

A friend, going by the name Ana Lissa Marie, was distraught at the death of Jurinek, who was studying art and media at Southern Illinois University, and had traveled to Houston with Patino to celebrate Jurinek’s birthday.

‘I lost all my respect for Travis Scott,’ she tweeted.

‘What happened was absolutely disgusting. RIP to all the ones that lost their lives. To Jacob Jurinek, you will be missed kid. thank you for all the laughs.

‘My condolences go to all the families that lost lives.’

Other victims included University of Dayton student Franco Patino (right), 21, who was attending the event with his best friend, 20-year-old Jacob Jurinek, when both were trampled to death 

Franco Patino, 21    

The University of Dayton confirmed to DailyMail.com that student Franco Patino of Naperville, Illinois, attended the concert in Houston on Friday.

The mechanical engineering technology major was involved in several campus extracurriculars and had most recently been working in a co-op program in Mason, Ohio.

University president Eric F Spina extended his sympathy and prayers to Patino’s loved ones and the campus community.

Patino’s fraternity, Alpha Psi Lambda, also issued condolences to his friends and family.

‘It is with a very heavy heart, Alpha Psi Lambda National, Inc shares that our brother, Franco “Cuauhocelotl” Patino, has passed on to Omega Chapter,’ the organization wrote on Facebook.

‘We extend our condolences to his family, friends, Alpha Nu Chapter and all that share in this loss. May his memory be eternal.’

The college senior joined the fraternity’s University of Dayton chapter last year. 

Patino (left) and Jurinek grew up in the same Illinois town and were best friends

Axel Acosta, 21  

Edgar Acosta on Monday held a press conference with Texas attorney Tony Buzbee to announce he was suing over the death of his son Axel Acosta, who had traveled from Washington to attend the festival – his first concert.

Axel Acosta, 21

‘They need to make things change in these type of events,’ he said.

‘Today it was me. I lost my son. It could’ve been you,’ Acosta said.

‘When you send your kid to have some fun, because somebody else is not providing the right… I don’t know I can explain. The right security.

‘Because it is not the first time that he has been in big events, right?

‘You can go to Disneyland and have fun. You can go to a baseball game and have fun. Because they have the right security, the right people, some people assisting those injured.

‘It’s hard to explain.’

Rodolfo ‘Rudy’ Peña, 23 

Peña, from Laredo, Texas, died of cardiac arrest after being injured at the show.

He was a medical assistant and criminal justice major with aspirations to become a model and dreamed of one day being a US Border Patrol agent.  

‘What happened this past weekend is a direct result of what happens when the pursuit of financial gain and fame take precedence over protecting the lives of the innocent,’ said Almaraz Law Firm, representing the Peñas, in a statement.

‘It is a testament to the current state of live events and the greed that runs rampant in this industry.

‘Nobody should feel unsafe enjoying something they love, and unfortunately this is exactly what has transpired.

‘We vow to work diligently and responsibly to bring justice to the Peña family and to all afflicted, and we will not rest until these voices have been heard loud and clear.

‘We will hold responsible parties accountable and fight to ensure that something positive comes of this unmitigated disaster. Something must change. Something will change.’ 

Rodolfo ‘Rudy’ Peña, 23

Madison Dubiski, 23

Madison Dubiski of Cypress, Texas, was the eighth victim to be identified on Monday.

The former Ole Miss student was yanked from her brother Ty, who tried to pull her to safety, in the surge and disappeared in the crowd.

Dubiski studied at the University of Mississippi between 2016 and 2017 and worked in advertising and marketing. She went to Cy-Fair High School, where she was a Varsity cheerleader and member of National Charity League, a community service organization for mothers and their daughters in middle and high school.

Friends said that her mother Michelle was her best friend and that she was very close with Ty, who graduated from Cy-Fair in 2019.

Madison Dubiski, 23

Danish Baig, 27  

Basil Mirza Baig took to Facebook Saturday announcing that his brother, Danish Baig also died at Astroworld.

‘My brother was killed in this horrendous event that was managed poorly and supervised by such horrible people,’ Baig wrote.

‘People were trampled, walked and stomped on. 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.’

Baig described Danish as a beautiful soul who put everyone before himself.

‘Last night he showed his courageous act to save my sister-in-law from those horrendous things that were being done. I am lost of words and in true trauma from this event,’ he added.

‘I was there and I wasn’t able to save my brother. People were hitting pushing and shoving and did not care for anyone’s life.’

Baig also accused the rapper of provoking the chaos by ‘calling people to the stage to jump into the crowd’ and for ‘not stopping the show’.

‘This is not the end,’ Baig warned. ‘My family and I will go to the full extent to make sure he is brought to justice.’

Danish Baig, 27