Funeral held for teenager in Texas who died at the Astroworld Festival

HOUSTON (AP) – Brianna Rodriguez, who at 16 was among the youngest of the nine people killed when the crowd …

HOUSTON (AP) – Brianna Rodriguez, who at age 16 was among the youngest of the nine people killed when the crowd rose at the Astroworld Music Festival in Houston, has been remembered by friends and family for her kindness and love of dance.

More than 250 people gathered in Houston on Saturday for Rodriguez’s funeral, the Houston Chronicle reported. Her white coffin was surrounded by flowers and balloons in pink and white – her favorite colors.

“Every time she walked into a room, she lit up the room,” her friend Ariah Herrera, 16, said as she cried. “She took care of everyone. She was a friend to everyone.”

Rodriguez was with a group of friends at the festival on November 5, when the audience stormed onto the stage during rapper Travis Scott’s performance. Hundreds of people were treated for injuries sustained by crushing corpses.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee of Houston paid tribute and handed Rodriguez’s parents an American flag flying over Congress and a congressional resolution acknowledging Rodriguez’s life.

Earlier in the week, Jackson visited Lee Heights High School, where Rodriguez was a junior and a member of the school’s dance team.

“Everyone said she was kind,” Jackson Lee said. “Everyone said she made them smile. In fact, I can see her dancing in the sky now.”

Her father, Osvaldo Rodriguez, remembered telling her, “Respect everyone. Everyone has different likes and desires in life, but if you love everyone, they will love you back.”

Jocelin Camero, 16, said Rodriguez became friends with her when she was a new high school student.

“I went into dance class without knowing anyone and she welcomed me,” Camero said, crying. “She was one of the best friends I had.”

The funeral of another Houston teenager who died at the concert, 14-year-old John Hilgert, is scheduled for Wednesday.

___

For more AP stories about Astroworld: https://ift.tt/3ksXvX7

Copyright © 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.