'Hero' Sues Izzy's Murder Defendant Patrick Gleason

JOLIET, IL - Joliet attorney Frank Cservenyak didn't mince words during an interview with Joliet Patch on Thursday afternoon. He said videotapes from inside of Izzy's Bar make it clear that Patrick Gleason killed bartender Danny Rios and then shot his client, Thomas Izquierdo, in the stomach. As far as he's concerned, Izquierdo, the bar owner's son, is the hero from that horrible episode on March 9. Around 1:15 a.m. Izzy's patron Gleason pulled out a gun and fatally shot Rios. The 52-year-old Joliet bartender fell to the ground and everyone in the bar could not believe what just happened.

Izquierdo, who was in the bar as a patron, intervened. He stopped Gleason from killing other patrons inside Izzy's, according to his lawyer. In the process, Izquierdo suffered a gunshot wound to his stomach.

Fortunately, he is on the road to recovery.

"He's getting much better, but he does have permanent and debilitating (injuries) from the attack. He is out of the hospital but he has pretty intense therapy," Cservenyak said.

This week, Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol filed a civil lawsuit on behalf of Thomas Izquierdo against the murder defendant. The lawsuit accuses Gleason of negligence and intentional battery.

Part of the lawsuit states, "That without cause or provocation, Defendant shot and assaulted Plaintiff ... Defendant's acts as alleged above were intentional.

"Plaintiff further expended and became liable for large sums of money for medical care and services ... Further, plaintiff has suffered a loss of normal life."

On Thursday afternoon, attorney Frank Cservenyak told Joliet Patch his client's medical bills are still climbing "and are easily in the six figures."

"Tom is going to do the best he can to get back to some type of normalcy, and that's why we filed the lawsuit," Cservenyak explained. "I'm sure that he saved several people that night in the bar.

"He was probably the hero in this situation. I can't imagine the imprint it has on your mind."

Cservenyak said his client proudly served his country in the U.S. Army and as the shooting happened inside the bar around 1:15 a.m. that Friday morning on Theodore Street, "His Army's training kicked in. Everyone was very proud of him."

Cservenyak said Gleason is the killer.

"Everything is on videotape," he said. "There's no question he's the killer.

"Obviously, he has a right to a criminal trial, but at the end of the day it's not going to affect my ability to prosecute Mr. Gleason" in a civil lawsuit seeking monetary damages.

In many civil lawsuits, lawyers wait a year, if not longer, before filing suit against the defendant. In this case the lawyer for Izquierdo filed suit only five weeks after the March 9 murder.

"The defendant does have some personal assets, and we don't want them dissipated," the Joliet attorney said.

In late March, a probate file for Gleason, 55, was opened at the Will County Courthouse.

Judge Jeff Allen appointed Colleen Wengler of Wengler Law Firm as temporary guardian for the Gleason estate. That court filing refers to the murder defendant as "an alleged disabled adult."

Moreover, court filings reflect, "your temporary guardian has to date marshaled assets to the estate in excess of $200,000," Wengler informed the probate judge.

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Images via John Ferak/Joliet Patch Editor