Illinois concertgoers free selves, others after theater roof collapse; one dead, 28 injured

Hasib Neaz was waiting for death metal band Morbid Angel to take the stage at a concert in Illinois as howling winds slammed a fire door open and shut, again and again.

The 34-year-old had come from Des Plaines for the concert at the Apollo Theatre in Belvidere. He felt something wet hit his hand. He just had time to wonder if someone had spilled a beer on him when everything went black.

“I heard a rumble, and I felt something hit hard on my head,” Neaz said. “I looked around and was like, ‘Holy crap, the whole roof collapsed’ … Is this a freaking dream or what?”

Neaz and about 10 other members of the audience began lifting heavy roofing material off others who had been trapped beneath a section of roof – which had collapsed as high winds and storms ripped through the region.

While several people lifted timbers, Neaz helped dazed and bloody audience members get out from under the rubble.

The roof’s collapse lead to the death of 50-year-old man and 28 injuries, with five people who remained in critical condition as of Saturday afternoon, officials said. No emergency personnel were injured in the response.

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‘Time is running out’

An opening act had finished playing and organizers had called for a 30-minute pause in the heavy metal concert because of the severe weather and high winds, Neaz said.

Crews were clearing the stage and some audience members were browsing the band merchandise area when the roof caved in. There were about 260 people in the building at the time, including audience members and event staff.