A 58-year-old Arlington Heights man died on Thursday from injuries his family and friends say he sustained during Riot Fest.
Following treatment for head trauma at Stroger Hospital, Stephen Shult died at 1:48 p.m. Thursday, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office. The cause of death is pending.
Shult attended Riot Fest in Douglass Park on Sept. 22, with his daughter, Jen Eaton, and her friends. They were separated before Slayer’s set at 8:15 p.m., and he failed to show up to their designated meeting spot afterward, according to an explanation on the GoFundMe page for Shult’s arrangements. After asking for help in locating him in a Riot Fest Facebook group, the family was informed that he had been transported to the Neurosciences ICU at Stroger.
Shult’s family and friends said they have suspicions that Shult may have been injured in the Slayer crowd — a claim that has been disputed by Riot Fest organizers.
“We still have no real facts, but [suspect] he was removed from a Slayer pit based on people’s reports,” Eaton alleges in a comment posted in the Riot Fest Facebook group. “Again, no one has confirmed anything.” Shult’s family did not immediately respond to the Sun-Times’ requests for comment.
Riot Fest organizers told the Sun-Times that medical personnel were dispatched to assist a man near the Ferris Wheel, where Shult was found, and that he had not fallen from the ride. They did not specify when he was found. Organizers also said his injuries did not result from a fight or attack. They emailed the following statement, which was later posted on Facebook:
“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.”
Riot Fest organizers said there haven’t been any deaths on festival grounds, or as a result of injuries at the event, in previous years.
Family friend Kevin Soto, who attended Riot Fest with Shult, disputes the Riot Fest statement. According to him, at the festival, Shult informed Soto that he was moving toward the Cabaret Metro Stage to get a “closer look” at Slayer as soon as the band’s set started. Shult even left his cellphone behind on the blanket they had brought to the fest, Soto said.
Soto also said he believes Shult may have been injured while watching Slayer. He stressed that Shult did not take any drugs and may have had just one or two drinks.
“Mosh pits can form very quickly and if you’re not ready, things can get pretty serious,” said Soto, 38, who lives in Hyde Park. “I think it’s possible that he could have gotten caught up in something. He had scrapes and bruises all over his body. All of his injuries are consistent with him falling and getting trampled.”
“There’s no way he could have made it from Slayer all the way to the Ferris Wheel,” he added. “In my mind, it’s impossible.”
The Cabaret Metro stage was located on the west side of Douglass Park and the Ferris Wheel is on east side, according to a festival map.
On the GoFundMe page, Eaton wrote that doctors performed a craniotomy (removal of a portion of the skull) on her father in response to brain bleeding and swelling. Shult was recovering well, but later slipped into a coma, she said.
“After more testing and another day of waiting for those results, it was confirmed he would not have any decent quality of life moving forward if he recovered,” she wrote, “and we collectively as a family, made the decision to let him be at peace.”
Eaton said her father died once he was removed from the breathing machine.
“I want to thank each and every person who has helped us from the very beginning in this terrible journey,” she wrote. “And every person who reached out and showed us love, helped. Thank you all for everything. I’m at a loss for words, this is devastating.”
The family did not immediately share details about funeral arrangements.
Soto said Shult will be remembered as a “beautiful soul.”
“He loved his family, he loved his cats and he loved to cook,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve ever gone to his house and didn’t see him in the kitchen whipping up something that he saw on Food Network or his own variation of a dish. He was a very talented graphic designer. He loved art. He was just a gentle, kind person that everybody loved.”