Photo: Jurinek Family
The family of Jacob Jurinek, one of theeight victimsof themass casualty incidentthat took place Friday night atTravis Scott’s Astroworld Festival in Houston, Texas, is grieving.
Jacob’s father, Ron Jurinek, tells PEOPLE that the 21-year-old college student was “just the sweetest kid you ever want to meet” with the “biggest heart in the world.”
“We lost his mom when he was 10,” Ron says. “He never gave me any trouble. That’s why it took so long for Houston to identify him because there’s no fingerprints on file. He never did anything where he got into any trouble.”
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Born and raised in Naperville, Illinois, Jacob was a junior at Southern Illinois University – Carbondale studying art and media, his family said in a Sunday press release shared with PEOPLE.
Travis Scott performs during 2021 Astroworld Festival.Erika Goldring/WireImage
Jacob and Ron were “inseparable,” the release noted, after the death of his mother Alison in 2011. They attended White Sox and Blackhawks games together, shared a love of professional wrestling and spent weekends with their extended family and friends at Jacob’s “favorite place,” their family cottage in Southwestern Michigan.
Along with Jacob,John Hilgert,14,Brianna Rodriguez, 16,Franco Patino, 21, Axel Acosta, 21,Rudy Pena, 23, Madison Dubiski, 23, andDanish Baig, 27, have been identified as seven of the eight victims who died in the Astroworld tragedy.
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Jacob had attended the concert alongside Franco, his best friend, to celebrate Jacob’s 21st birthday, his brother Julio Patino, Jr.previously told PEOPLE.
“They were planning [to go to the event] for months. Franco was saving up money for it, so was Jacob,” Julio said. “And he was very excited. He was telling all his friends and family, ‘I’m going to go and see Travis Scott and Bad Bunny.'”
Travis Scott.Erika Goldring/WireImage
In addition to the casualties, more than 300 people were treated for injuries following the chaos that unfolded at approximately 9:15 p.m. on Friday, when fans in the crowd of about 50,000 began to rush the stage, according to the authorities.
A source close to Scott, 30, told PEOPLE that the rapper wasunaware of the magnitude of the situationwhile on stage. “The lights were shining in his eyes and he couldn’t see what was happening,” said the source. “He thought someone had just passed out, which happens during concerts.”
He continued, “I am committed to working together with the Houston community to heal and support the families in need. Thank you to Houston PD, Fire Department and NRG Park for their immediate response and support.”
source: people.com
