Police are Investigating the Death of a Man at a Slipknot Concert

Tragedy struck a Slipknot concert last Sunday night, August 11, when Richard Valadez, 62, died at a Slipknot concert. Fans reported seeing Valadez moshing in the lawn area of the venue and having a great time, but that he was knocked to the ground and then suffered what appeared to be a seizure. According to other fans at the show, medical personnel took more than 15 minutes to reach Valadez despite concertgoers asking several venue staff, describing the scene as confusing and chaotic.

Authorities in Tinley Park, IL, the Chicago suburb where the show was hosted, are now investigating why it took medical personnel so long to reach Valadez. According to Patch.com, several witnesses said they asked venue staff for help only to be told they had no radios and couldn’t assist. One witness, Jeremy Metzger, intercepted a manager with a radio who was escorting another fan out of the venue, only to be told that the manager was busy and didn’t have time to assist. Metzger then helped EMS personnel carry a stretcher up the stairs, which is consistent with prior reports of someone in plain clothes assisting medical workers:

“Metzger said when EMS personnel arrived, he and two other men carried the stretcher up the stairs and through the crowds to Valadez. After Valadez was isolated on the stretcher, an emergency services technician sat on top of him to begin chest compressions. He did not stop until the men carrying the stretcher back down the stairs reached the parking lot.

“‘I have to tip my hat to him,’ Metzger said.”

Valadez is survived by two sons, Richard and Andrew, and four grandchildren. His favorite band was Behemoth. The cause of his death is not yet known, and an autopsy is pending. A public service was held yesterday, Sunday, August 18, at the Dalcamo Funeral Home in Chicago.

More details of the incident are available at Patch.com. The band has not yet commented on the incident.