Astroworld victim Brianna Rodriguez, 16, remembered at Houston funeral: 'Our hearts are broken'
HOUSTON — Brianna Rodriguez, who at 16 was among the youngest of the 10 people killed as the crowd surged at the Astroworld music festival in Houston, has been remembered by friends and family for her friendliness and love of dance.
A large group of people gathered Saturday in Houston for Rodriguez’s funeral. Her white casket was surrounded by flowers and balloons in pink and white — her favorite colors.
Rodriguez was with a group of friends at the festival on Nov. 5 when the crowd surged toward the stage during rapper Travis Scott’s performance. Hundreds of people were treated for injuries sustained in the crush of bodies.
What happened at Astroworld? A minute-by-minute, visual account of how chaos unfolded
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Houston delivered a eulogy and presented Rodriguez’s parents with an American flag that flew over Congress and a Congressional resolution that recognized Rodriguez’s life.
"Our hearts are broken, but our souls have been touched," Jackson Lee told reporters. "In that funeral home, there are a lot of people. (Brianna) means peace. There's a mother and a father in the family, and there's a story to be told about Brianna, and I want that story to be told."
Her father, Osvaldo Rodriguez, recalled to the Houston Chronicle telling his daughter: “Respect everyone. Everybody has different likes and wants in life, but if you love everyone, they’ll love you back.”
Jocelin Camero, 16, said Rodriguez befriended her when she was a new student in middle school.
“I walked into dance class not knowing anybody, and she welcomed me,” Camero said, choking back tears. “She was one of the greatest friends I had.”
The funeral for another Houston teen who died at the concert, 14-year-old John Hilgert, is set for Wednesday.
Astroworld's 10th victim: 9-year-old boy in coma from injuries dies
Ten deaths have been confirmed in connection to the Astroworld festival. A 9-year-old, Ezra Blount, was placed with a medically induced coma after being injured at the concert and died Sunday, Houston's Mayor Sylvester Turner confirmed in a tweet.
Nine other deaths were previously confirmed with victims ranging in age between 14 and 27. They are Mirza Danish Baig, 27; Rodolfo Peña, 23; Madison Dubiski, 23; Bharti Shahani, 22; Axel Acosta Avila, 21; Franco Patino, 21; Jacob Jurinek, 20; Brianna Rodriguez, 16; and John Hilgert, 14. Many of the victims were students at various high schools and universities.
Autopsies will be performed before the victims are released to their families, Judge Hidalgo said.
Contributing: USA TODAY staff and the Associated Press
More:Astroworld Festival victims were teens, college students and one aspiring model
And:Travis Scott offers 'full refunds' to Astroworld attendees, lawsuits filed in tragedy's aftermath
