'A Terrible Loss': Memorial HS Student Killed At Astroworld

HOUSTON, TX — A ninth-grade boy from Memorial High School in Spring Branch ISD was the youngest person killed in the Astroworld Festival crowd surge Friday night at NRG Park in southwest Houston.

John Hilgert, 14, was killed in the incident, according to a letter from Spring Branch ISD administrators to parents, guardians and students obtained by Patch.

"Our hearts go out to the student's family and to his friends and our staff at Memorial," Lisa Weir, principal at Memorial High School, said in the letter. "This is a terrible loss, and the entire MHS family is grieving today. Please keep the student's family in your thoughts and prayers as they face this tragedy."

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Hilgert played baseball for Marucci Texas Elite, a select baseball program with teams in Houston, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, East Texas and Laredo.

"It is with a heavy heart, that we mourn the loss of our METx family member, John Hilgert, as well as the other lives lost during the tragic events of Friday night," Marucci Texas Elite said in a statement on Facebook. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Chris, Nichole, and all of the families as they navigate their way through these trying times. Rest easy and fly high young man!"

Marucci Texas Elite Director of Baseball Operations in Houston Jordan Venable remembered Hilgert's warm personality and passion for baseball in a Facebook post.

"[Hilgert] had an unforgettable smile and a passion for baseball that was rivaled by very few," Venable said. "You never had to question John’s 'want to' or his effort. He wanted to be the best he could be every day, every game, every pitch. He was the epitome of our motto, 'In Or In The Way,' and we couldn’t have been prouder to have him represent our family."