A grim shadow was cast over Nevada after a man was found in a “pool of blood” at the Burning Man festival on Saturday night in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert.The Pershing County sheriff’s office said they found the body at around 9 pm (local time) when a festivalgoer reported to police about a man lying motionless on ground. Deputies who responded to the incident pronounced him dead at the scene.

Homicide probe launched

According to police, they are treating the death as a homicide. The incident took place at the moment when the “Man” — the towering wooden effigy that serves as the symbolic centrepiece of the event — was set ablaze before thousands of attendees.Local deputies, Bureau of Land Management rangers, and Burning Man’s Black Rock Rangers quickly established a perimeter around the area and interviewed festivalgoers who were nearby at the time. A crime scene has been cordoned off and will remain heavily monitored until investigators conclude their work.“Although this act appears to be a singular crime, all participants should always be vigilant of their surroundings and acquaintances,” the sheriff’s office cautioned in a statement.

Festival continues amid heavy police presence

The festival, which began last Sunday and is scheduled to end Monday, is continuing under heightened law enforcement scrutiny. Burning Man organisers said they are cooperating with investigators and urged participants not to interfere with police activity.“The Pershing County Sheriff’s Office will be the primary source of further information,” organisers said in a statement, noting the area of the incident will remain closed until law enforcement completes its work.