Dead Bull Rider's Dad Sues Rodeo

A teenage bull rider was left in a pole barn after severely injuring his head and died three days later, according to a lawsuit filed in Will County court.

Lorenzo Gonzalez, the father of deceased 18-year-old Jose Gonzalez, sued Briggs Street rodeo venue La Herradura De Joliet Tuesday.

Jose Gonzalez “rode bulls as an independent contractor for venues such as” La Herradura, the lawsuit said.

On Oct. 16, La Herradura assigned a bull to Jose Gonzalez that “was so aggressive, another rider had refused to ride it,” the suit said.

Jose Gonzalez also refused but relented after he “felt pressured to do so by member of” La Herradura.

Jose Gonzalez was thrown from the bull and hit his head while the animal “continued bucking aggressively,” the suit.

There were no medical personnel at the venue, the suit said, so La Herradura employees “dragged (Jose Gonzalez) to a pole barn” and left him there for at least 45 minutes before calling for help.

He died three days later, the suit said, “after entering a permanent vegetative state.”

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