Authorities are investigating an apparent murder at Nevada’s Burning Man Festival over the weekend.
The Pershing County Sheriff’s Office reported that one of its deputies was approached by a festival-goer in the affluent, avant-garde event in the Nevada desert on Saturday night, who mentioned discovering “a male individual lying in a pool of blood.”
Responding to the scene, deputies and Bureau of Land Management rangers arrived at the campsite and found a man “lying on the ground, clearly deceased” at the festival, located around 110 miles north of Reno in the Black Rock Desert.
On Sunday, the sheriff’s office announced that there would be a “heavy law enforcement presence” at the festival until the investigation is concluded. The festival is scheduled to conclude on Monday.
As of Sunday, authorities confirmed they hadn’t identified the victim and had not determined the cause and manner of death. However, they noted that they had “interviewed several participants in the nearby vicinity.”
The victim’s body was sent to a medical examiner’s office.
The Associated Press reported that the festival released a statement indicating its cooperation with the investigation and urging attendees not to obstruct the inquiry.
“The safety and well-being of our community are paramount,” the statement said, adding that support services were available to assist participants.
The annual Burning Man festival, renowned for drawing thousands to its blend of performances and camping, is renowned for the burning of a large wooden effigy of a man, from which the festival derives its name.
No other information about the murder has been released.
