A homicide investigation is underway after a festival attendee was found dead at the 2025 Burning Man festival in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert on Saturday evening, authorities confirmed Sunday.
The victim, described as a white adult male, was discovered around 9:15 p.m. Saturday night by another festival participant who flagged down a Pershing County sheriff’s deputy. The man was found lying on the ground in a pool of blood, according to the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office.
The timing of the discovery was particularly striking, as it occurred around the same time the giant “Man” effigy in the middle of the venue was engulfed in flames – one of the festival’s most iconic and climactic moments.
Deputies, along with Bureau of Land Management rangers and Burning Man’s own Black Rock rangers, quickly established a perimeter around the scene and began interviewing festival participants. The body has been transported to the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the victim’s identity remains unknown.
The Pershing County Sheriff’s Office emphasized the complexity of the investigation, noting that “the case is a ‘complicated investigation,’ as the makeshift city will be gone by the middle of the week”. The annual festival, which began August 24, is scheduled to end Monday.
While authorities believe this appears to be an isolated incident, they issued a cautionary statement to festival-goers. “Although this act appears to be a singular crime, all participants should always be vigilant of their surroundings and acquaintances,” the sheriff’s office said.
Burning Man organizers released a statement confirming their cooperation with law enforcement and emphasizing community safety. “The safety and well-being of our community are paramount,” the festival said. They also advised attendees not to interfere with ongoing law enforcement activities.
The festival organization noted that support services are available, including peer support from Black Rock rangers and 24/7 crisis support from the Emergency Services Department.
Burning Man is an annual week-long event that takes place in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, approximately 110 miles north of Reno. The festival attracts tens of thousands of participants from around the world who gather to create a temporary community focused on art, self-expression, and radical self-reliance.
Law enforcement officials are asking anyone with information regarding the homicide to contact the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation involves local authorities working alongside federal agencies given the festival’s location on federal land.
This tragic incident marks a rare occurrence of violent crime at the typically peaceful desert gathering, which has been held annually since the 1990s.
