Name of Ribfest Death Won't Be Released

The DuPage County Coroner’s Office said it will not be releasing the name of the man who died at Naperville’s Ribfest the afternoon of July 2 due to the sensitivity of the case.

Police have confirmed that the man was in his early 20s and Naperville Police Chief Bob Marshall said there was a prior incident in Evanston involving the man, but Marshall was not able to provide more details into what that incident was or when it happened.

Naperville Police Sergeant Bill Davis said an investigation showed that the man intentionally threw himself under the Pharaoh’s Fury ride shortly after the start of Ribfest.

The ride closed, but was open the following day for the remainder of the festival.

The DuPage County Coroner’s Office was called to Ribfest at around 3:30 p.m. July 2.

Paige Shipley, of Naperville, told the Daily Herald that she saw someone dive under the ride while it was moving.

Shipley said the man was struck three times as the ride swung back and forth before the operator was able to stop it. People on the ride said they heard a thumping sound.