Tinley Police Investigate Death Of Man At Heavy Metal Concert

TINLEY PARK, IL — Tinley Park police have opened an investigation into the death of a Zion man during a Knotfest concert at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Sunday.

Foul play is not suspected, police said.

The news comes as the man's sons search for answers about what happened to their father, who witnesses said appeared to be "having the time of his life" at the music festival.

Their father, Richard Valadez, 62, of the 2300 block Galilee Avenue in Zion, was pronounced dead at 11:34 p.m., Sunday, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office. The cause of his death is not yet known, and an autopsy is pending, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner's office said. Richard Valadez Jr. and his brother, Andrew, said they have been told their father may have died as a result from a heart attack. However, they said, they're wondering whether he might have survived that if he had proper or quicker medical care.

"A lot of things were going on and it appears that nobody had any type of control, I don't think," said Richard, 34, of Zion. "I just want some answers."

Valadez had been attending Knotfest, a heavy-metal music festival. Concertgoers reported seeing Valadez suffer distress while venue staff were slow and sometimes struggling to help him after he fell to the ground while he was dancing in a mosh pit. Witnesses reported it that it appeared to take "a long time" for help to reach the man.

Live Nation, operators of Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park, declined to answer questions surrounding the incident. A spokeswoman referred questions to local authorities. Tinley Park officials said earlier this week that they had no information because Live Nations hires private emergency services and village staff were not there. Tinley officials Friday added that they were still collecting video, reports and other evidence as part of the investigation, but so far it appeared adequate medical personnel were on staff.

Witnesses described a scene of chaos Sunday night while people frantically searched for help during a dark, loud, crowded concert, and while others attempted to shield Valadez, who remained on the ground, from dancers who likely could not see him.

Jeremy Metzger of Crown Point, IN, was one of the concertgoers who said he tried to help Valadez.

Metzger said he did not see Valadez fall, but said the commotion afterwards caught his attention. He and several other witnesses reported that they tried to alert the security members they could find, but the witnesses reported those security staff members all said they had no radios and could not help.

Metzger said he then saw a man nearby, who he described as a manager, escorting another man out of the concert. He noticed the manager had a radio, so he ran to him for help.

"I said 'we got a man down here and I think he's dying.'" Metzger said.

"His response was: 'I don’t have time.'" And the manager walked away, he said.

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.

Richard and Andrew Valadez said they are grateful for all of the people who tried to help their father.

"My father always put people first before himself," Richard said. "It was other people's self-interest before his own." He would have been moved to know people were doing the same thing for him, Valadez's son said.

His sons described Valadez as a family man, the kind of guy who grabbed life by the reins to bring joy to himself and other people. He wore many hats, and even served as a seaman in the U.S. Navy before he was honorably discharged in 1978.

Valadez, a single father, gave them everything they needed or wanted, Andrew, 33, said, and continued that way of life for his four grandchildren.

"He lived for us and his grandkids," Richard said.

He also lived for music. Valadez, whose favorite band was Behemoth, made it a point to go to concerts as much as he could. He went monthly, his sons said. He also loved Six Flags Great America — so much so, that after Valadez graduated from Lake County College, he found a job in park services at the amusement park.

"He was like that," Andrew said with a laugh.

Andrew said he and his father had just come back from a family vacation at Wisconsin Dells last Friday, and that his father was looking forward to the concert.

On Sunday, Richard was supposed to attend Knotfest with his father, but had to work. Instead, Richard dropped him off at the train station at 10 a.m. His father was looking forward to an awards ceremony at Great America the next day, Richard recalled.

"He asked me to go. And I wasn't there. If I had only known..." he said.

A public service is scheduled from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m Sun., Aug. 18 for Richard Valadez at Dalcamo Funeral Home, 470 W 26th St. Chicago.