Tornado Caused Theater Roof Collapse That Killed 1, Injured 40: NWS

BELVIDERE, IL — Weather officials on Saturday confirmed that a tornado is to blame for the partial collapse of the roof of the Apollo Theater in Belvidere, which caused the death of 1 and injured 40 others.

The path of the EF-1 tornado covered portions of Ogle, Winnebago and Boone counties between 7:24 and 7:49 p.m. Friday, according to preliminary data released by the National Weather Service released Saturday afternoon.

About 260 people were attending the heavy metal concert at the theater, located at 104 N. State St., when the tornado struck. Emergency crews pulled a 50-year-old man, who was pronounced dead at the scene, from the rubble.

The collapse also injured 40 others, including two who have life-threatening injuries.

The partial roof collapse happened during a concert at the theater. Morbid Angel, Crypta, Skeletal Remains and Revocation were all set to perform Friday night.

Shortly after Crypta finished a set, an announcement made at the venue let concert goers know the show would be paused for 30 minutes due to the severe weather, according to the New York Times. Chris Bryant, 39, said he was attending the concert, and narrowly escaped injury, when the roof caved in.

“Initially, I was confused because it felt like an earthquake, and I was thinking, ‘Why would there be an earthquake right now?’" Bryant told the New York Times.

“As soon as that happened,” he added, “I watched as the entire roof collapsed on everybody, basically right where we were standing.”

The first reports from the theater started coming in at 7:48 p.m.

A video shared on social media from inside the Apollo Theater shows several people trying to remove debris from the collapsed roof so they could get to those trapped underneath.

Belvidere Police Chief Shane Woody described the scene as "absolute chaos," according to the Chicago Tribune. He said the priority for emergency crews first arriving to the scene was to get people out.

“When first responders got there, they tried to control the chaos as best as possible. We tried to go in and save as many people as we possibly can and bring them to safety as best as we can," Woody said during a late Friday news conference.

Gov. J. B. Pritzker said late Friday his administration is "closely monitoring the roof collapse at the Apollo Theatre."

"I've been in touch with officials for updates and to direct any available resources we can," he said in a statement Friday.

My administration is closely monitoring the roof collapse at the Apollo Theatre in Belvidere tonight.

I’ve been in touch with officials for updates and to direct any available resources we can.

As we learn more, please follow the guidance of all local authorities.
— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) April" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/GovPritzke... 1, 2023

One of the bands performing at the Apollo, Morbid Angel, Revocation and Skeletal Remains, announced late Friday night their show had been canceled due to a "tornado that hit the venue."

"We ask anyone who is still traveling to the venue to please seek shelter and stay safe. We are currently sheltering in place, and want to extend our support and hope that everyone at the show tonight is safe," according to a post on the Morbid Angel Facebook page. "Right now our focus is on making sure everyone in the venue tonight is ok and gets home."

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The Associated Press contributed to this article.