Slayer Fan Injured at Riot Fest Has Passed Away (UPDATE)
(Editor’s note: New information from Riot Fest has come out about the incident. The new information can be found near the bottom of the article. A previous reference about the man being potentially trampled during the Slayer show has been removed.)
Some really sad news is coming out from the aftermath of Riot Fest, as a 58-year-old man that suffered severe injuries on Sunday, September 22 passed away yesterday, leaving his loved ones wondering what caused his condition in the first place.
The man named Stephen Shult was attending the festival on Sunday, September 22 when he was injured. According to first hand accounts, he was last seen at around 7:45 p.m. during Rob Zombie‘s set telling his friends that he was stoked to catch Slayer later that night. After that, he became separated from his group and failed to show up at their pre-determined meet-up spot after the show.
The following day, a missing persons report was filed with the Chicago Police Department, but he was ultimately found in critical condition in the intensive care unit of Stroger Hospital with a brain bleed. He’d been taken there directly from the festival, but was listed under the wrong name since he apparently didn’t have identification on him.
According to a Facebook post by his daughter, Shult initially began showing signs of recovery but ultimately began declining over the following weekend. When family arrived at the hospital this past Wednesday, they were told by medical professionals that he had slipped into a “natural coma and had little to no brain activity.” After confirming he wouldn’t be able to fully recover from his injuries and enjoy a “decent quality of life,” the family opted to remove him from life support.
At this time, Shult’s loved ones are trying to find out what happened to him. They say details are scarce about the moments that led to his injuries, though they say the doctors that tended to him have some ideas about what might have transpired and are still investigating.
We at MetalSucks want to offer our deepest condolences to the Shult family and all of his loved ones.
Update: In the last hour, a post was made on the official Riot Fest Facebook page where organizers sought to clarify some details that may have led to Shult’s untimely death. Their statement is as follows:
“Riot Fest Community,
“We are heartbroken to share that a festival attendee passed away yesterday. Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, and loved ones during this incredibly challenging time.
“The health, safety, and well-being of our fans and community have always been our top priority. We are aware of the various speculations surrounding this tragedy, including claims that it may be linked to the Slayer crowd. However, we want to clarify that this is not the case. The on-site medical team responded to this medical incident, near the Ferris Wheel area, prior to Slayer’s performance. Out of respect for the family’s privacy, we will not be sharing further details.
“We ask our community to come together, support one another, and keep those affected in their thoughts.”
