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Bull escapes California rodeo, injures six people before being captured

REDDING, Calif. – A bull escaped during a California rodeo Friday night and six people were injured before the animal was captured, police said.

The bull was caught near the Sundial Bridge in Redding and immediately put into a trailer, the Redding Rodeo Association said in a news release late Friday night.

Rodeo officials said the bull jumped over the arena fence during the final section of the bull riding event Friday night.

“The bull ran out of the rodeo grounds and towards the contestant parking area,” the news release said.

A high school student was one of the people injured by the bull's horns and talked to the Redding Record Searchlight, part of the USA TODAY Network, about his harrowing experience.

Jordan Greco, a 15-year-old sophomore at Enterprise High School in Redding, said he was injured by the bull as it charged near the stadium's VIP section. Pictures shared by Greco showed his left leg wrapped in bandages from his knee to his thigh.

He later went to the emergency room and underwent further tests on his leg. Greco believes he was "fortunate" to not suffer worse injuries.

Redding police Cpl. Aaron Hollemon said Saturday that approximately six people were injured, all with minor, non-life threatening injuries.

"The people that were injured were bystanders in the stands as well as people at the Sundial Bridge," Hollemon said.

The person injured at the bridge was a woman who was taken by ambulance to the hospital with minor injuries inflicted by the bull.

"My understanding is four people were seen by emergency medical personnel and they left before we could contact them," Hollemon said.

Hollemon said police were referring other questions to the rodeo association.

Previously: Rider Amadeu Campos Silva, 22, dies from injuries at Professional Bull Rider's event

More bulls: Bicyclists captured on video being attacked by raging bull during a 'stupidly hard ride'

Students were eyewitnesses

Greco said he was helping check rodeo tickets and assisted other guests who were seated on the rodeo flats.

Greco was waiting in line to use the restroom after his shift was over when the bull leaped over the enclosure and toward the arena's back entrance.

Greco was "clipped" by one of the the raging beast's horns as rodeo-goers tried to avoid its path.

"I looked at the woman who took over my shift and next thing I know I see this huge bull running towards us," Greco said.

Jordan Greco shared this photo of his injured left leg after getting "clipped" by a bull that jumped over a fence at the Redding Rodeo on Friday night, May 20, 2022.
Jordan Greco shared this photo of his injured left leg after getting "clipped" by a bull that jumped over a fence at the Redding Rodeo on Friday night, May 20, 2022.

Greco was working his shift with his classmate, 16-year-old Braedon Jones. Jones said he was 15 yards from Greco as he watched his friend get hit.

"I'm stressed," Jones said. "We were working perfectly fine before that happened. (Greco) had to call me because he was close and I didn't realize he got hit. I saw the bull run through."

A spectator video posted on Facebook shows a rider staying on the bull before he's eventually bucked off. A rodeo cowboy followed the bull and tries to lasso it before the bull leaps over the fence.

An emergency response plan was activated by the rodeo announcer and “rodeo livestock professionals quickly responded to safely contain the bull,” the statement said.

The Rodeo Association’s statement said first responders, rodeo staff and local law enforcement provided first aid.

Mike Chapman is an award-winning reporter and photographer for the Record Searchlight in Redding, Calif.

Follow reporter Ethan Hanson on Twitter: @EthanAHanson_RS.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Bull escapes Redding Rodeo in California, injures six people