RENO, NV — A man found dead on Aug. 30 at Burning Man has prompted a homicide investigation, authorities said, as thousands of attendees prepared to culminate the event by watching the burning of the wooden Man effigy.
Deputies found the body at 9:14 p.m. local time as festivities were kicking off for the burning of the Man, the Pershing County Sheriff's Office said in a statement on Aug. 31. A deputy was flagged down by a participant who found the body "lying in a pool of blood," according to the sheriff's office.
"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 sheriff's office said.
The identity of the man is unknown, and no details on the possible cause of death have been released, the sheriff's office said.
Authorities noted that while the incident appeared to be a "singular crime," all attendees should remain vigilant of their surroundings and acquaintances. The investigation is ongoing, and the "portion of the 'City'" where the incident occurred will have a heavy law enforcement presence until the scene is released, the sheriff's office said.
