GoFundMe For Izzy's Bartender Danny Rios Draws Huge Response

JOLIET, IL - In times of terrible tragedy people around Joliet and Will County have a giving heart and that is evident with the immediate response to Friday's early morning murder inside of Izzy's Bar that killed Joliet resident Danny Rios III, 52. Rios died from a single gunshot to the head while he was tending bar. He was killed about 45 minutes before closing time at 507 Theodore St. Joliet Police have identified the shooter as Crest Hill resident Patrick K. Gleason, who lived less than one block away. On Friday, people told the Joliet Patch that Gleason had been kicked out on multiple occasions and he was not welcomed inside of Izzy's.

After Gleason apparently walked into Izzy's, put a gun to Rios' head and fired the trigger, chaos ensued inside the bar. One of the sons of bar owner, Alfonso "Izzy" Izquierdo, was shot in the abdomen. A number of bar patrons had taken down Gleason by the time the Joliet Police officers got to the scene of the homicide.

Gleason was taken by ambulance to Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, and he remains there this weekend under Joliet Police supervision. Once he recovers from his beating, the apparent killer will be moved into the Will County Adult Detention Facility. Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow intends to move ahead with first-degree murder charges against Gleason, who lives in the 1600 block of Dearborn Street in nearby Crest Hill.

As for the GoFundMe, called the Danny Rios Memorial, it hoped to raise $11,500. Within one day, the Joliet community already donated $14,714. There were 203 people who made donations.

The memorial was set up by Alec, Carolina and the rest of the Rios family.

"My Dad, Danny Rios, was a victim of a senseless crime, he was fatally shot at Izzy's Bar in Crest Hill, Illinois on March 9th 2018. I am in shock and can't believe that he is gone. Why did this happen? He was such a kind hearted man, very well liked, always so generous and willing to lend a hand," the victim's children noted.

Their GoFundMe explains how their father "unfortunately ... did not have life insurance and our family has now been hit with some unexpected funeral expenses. I could never image that a funeral can cost over $11,000 ... I will miss my Dad so much. I respectfully ask and would appreciate any donation."

If you, too, want to donate to help out the Danny Rios family in their time of horrific sorrow, please follow this link to the Danny Rios Memorial GoFundMe page.

Woodlawn Funeral Service on Jefferson Street is handling the funeral service arrangements for Danny Rios.

ORIGINAL STORY: Izzy's Murder Suspect In Custody

Main image via GoFundMe, other images via John Ferak, Joliet Patch Editor