The University of Dayton said Saturday that one of its students died in the chaos that unfolded at Astroworld Festival Friday night.
University officials said the victim, Franco Patiño, 21, was a senior from Naperville, Illinois. He was a mechanical engineering technology major with a minor in human movement biomechanics. While at UD, Franco was the treasurer of Alpha Psi Lambda, a Hispanic interest fraternity, and was active in the Greek and Multi-Ethnic Education communities on campus. He was also the president of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) at UD, active in the ETHOS program, and was currently working for AtriCure Inc. in the Research and Development Department of an engineering co-op program in Mason, Ohio.
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“He even carried his love for rugby by being the first person in UD to organize rugby games with universities nearby and organized a team of his own in Dayton,” his family said in a statement.
“Franco was a beloved friend, cousin, nephew, brother, and son. He was loved by so many because of the loyal, loving, selfless, protective, funny, and caring person he was. Even though he was a hardworking individual, he would always try to make time for his family and the people he cared about,” his family said. “We will miss the big heart Franco had and his passion for helping others. We’re glad Franco always tried to live life to the fullest and are glad to know he was the type of person that would put others before himself until the very end.”
“Te amamos mucho hijo (we love you very much son),” said Teresita and Julio C. Patiño, the victim’s parents. “Franco was not only a brother but a best friend to Cesar and Julio Jr. and loved dearly by his mom (Teresita Patino) and dad (Julio C. Patiño).”
The family has asked for time and space as they process Patiño’s death.
“We’re comforted by the impact Franco made on hundreds of people over the years and that they will carry a piece of him from now on,” they said.
A crowd surge at Travis Scott’s Friday festival claimed the lives of at least seven others.
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On Friday night, a crowd of some 50,000 had amassed at NRG Park for the music festival, which featured popular musicians including SZA, Lil Baby, and Drake. The crowd consisted largely of teens and young adults. At around 9:15 p.m., while Travis Scott was performing, swaths of the crowd surged toward the stage, causing panic among festival-goers. Several people fell unconscious. Others were trampled.
Over 300 people were tended to on-site. Paramedics transported at least 25 people to the hospital, one as young as 10 years old. Eleven of those transported were in cardiac arrest, authorities said.
Those killed Friday range in age from 14 to 27.
Read the statement the University of Dayton sent to its students and faculty Saturday:
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