Travis Scott says he’s trying to reach families of victims after deadly Astroworld show
Rapper Travis Scott sent “prayers” to the families of eight people who died at his show during the Astroworld music festival Friday night, but denied that he had any idea what was happening below the stage until it was too late.
“Any time I can make out anything that’s going on, I’d stop the show and help them get the help they need, you know?” he said in an Instagram video Saturday night. “I could never imagine this situation.”
Eight people, ranging from 14 to 27, were killed Friday night in the out-of-control crowd and hundreds of others injured, police and government officials said Saturday.
Scott, a 30-year-old Houston native, stopped his show once about 30 minutes in when he noticed an ambulance, and then again later into the performance to tell security to help someone on the ground.
“I just want to send out prayers to the ones that was lost last night. We’re actually working right now to identify the families to assist them through this tough time,” he said. “My fans really mean the world to me, and I always want to leave them with a positive experience.”
Scott also said he was working with authorities and promised to keep fans updated.
Local police have launched an investigation into “what caused, one, the issue of the crowd surge, and two, what prevented people from being able to escape that situation,” Houston Fire Chief Sam Peña said Saturday.
The Houston Police Department’s homicide and narcotics divisions are also assisting.
Among the victims publicly identified so far is 16-year-old Brianna Rodriguez.
“Gone from our (sights), but never from our hearts. It is with profound sadness we lay to rest our beloved Brianna Rodriguez,” her family wrote on GoFundMe. “She was a beautiful vibrant 16-year-old high school junior at Heights HS in Houston TX. Dancing was her passion and now she’s dancing her way to heaven’s pearly gates.”
