Rudy Peña’s family is seeking answers after the 23-year-old died at Astroworld Festival.
The medical assistant and criminal justice major was one of the eight people who died during Travis Scott‘s Astroworld Festival in Houston on Friday.
Peña’s brother-in-law Sergio Gonzalez told PEOPLE that their family wants answers and justice.
“We learned in the worst way. We found out around 12:30 last night from a friend of Rudy that was with him that he had just passed out,” Gonzalez explains. “It wasn’t until this afternoon that we found out he had died.”
He was the youngest of five siblings.
“This afternoon, Rudy’s mother found out that he had died. She was so distraught. Her pain was immense. She was screaming, crying. We had to give her a sedative, and she’s barely going to sleep,” says Gonzalez. “She thinks he’s still alive and that she’s waiting for him and that he’ll come home. She keeps saying she has to get home because he’s going to arrive. You can only imagine.”
Gonzalez believes the mass casualties could have been prevented.
“We’re so angry. There are always so many concerts and they’re always great, but you never imagine that there’ll be a tragedy. You never go to a concert and think you’re going to die. You pay for your ticket, go to a concert, have fun and go home — you never think you’ll go through something like this,” he says. “I am really angry … If there’s a multitude of people gathering outside, why wasn’t there more control? That’s where my anger comes from.”
“In Mexico, you go to a stadium and there are police with guns and armor in case anything ever happens since there are so many people,” Gonzalez adds. “How were they going to control such a large crowd?”
The investigation continues in what led to the tragedy. Scott’s team did reach out to the victim’s family and offered to cover his funeral costs, but Gonzalez says it has brought little comfort.
“We heard from Travis’ team. They’re trying to cover the medical and funeral costs. It’s not that we don’t need the money, but we want justice. I want my brother-in-law back. I want my loved one back,” Gonzalez shares.
