Murder investigation launched after man found dead at Burning Man
A murder investigation has been launched after a male festival-goer was tragically found dead at Burning Man festival in Nevada.
According to USA Today, the victim was found dead “lying in a pool of blood” just before 9.15pm on August 30th, as proceedings for burning the wooden statue at the centre of the festival were just beginning.
Launching an investigation the following day into the unexplained death, the local Pershing County Sheriff’s Office said the body of the man was discovered by a fellow festival attendee, who immediately flagged down deputies to report the incident.
The office said in a statement: “Pershing County Sheriff’s Office deputies and the Bureau of Land Management immediately responded to the campsite and found a single white adult male lying on the ground, obviously deceased.”
The man has not yet been formally identified, meaning possible causes for his death have not yet been revealed by the authorities.
The police noted that although the death seems to be a “singular crime” at this point in time, they urged all other festival attendees to remain vigilant regarding the people and environment surrounding them on the site. They added that the area in which the body of the man was found would remain closed off, pending further investigation.
In a separate statement, organisers of Burning Man urged its festival-goers not to involve themselves in the ongoing police investigation, adding: “The safety and well-being of our community are paramount.”
The tragic incident comes at the culmination of the week-long festival, which began on August 24th as over 70,000 people arrived in the remote site in Reno, Nevada, to witness the burning of the 100-foot wooden man from whom the festival takes its name.
The celebrations coincide with Labor Day in the US, which takes place on September 1st.
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