Tens of thousands of people descended on a dry lakebed in Nevada over the past week, ending this weekend with the burning of a massive wooden sculpture shaped like a man. It was at that point, on Saturday night, that a man was found dead in a pool of blood, with authorities investigating it as a homicide. This is believed to be the first suspected homicide since Burning Man moved to the Black Rock Desert in 1990.

"The Pershing County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of a single white adult male that occurred the night of Saturday, August 30 in Black Rock City," Burning Man officials wrote in a press release on its website. 

Sheriff Jerry Allen of the Pershing County Sheriff's Office said deputies at Burning Man arrived at the scene around 9:14 pm local time Saturday and "found a single white adult male lying on the ground, obviously deceased." 

AP News cited local officials who said the man was found "dead in a pool of blood and is being investigated as a homicide."

The Pershing County Sheriff's Office noted that the homicide investigation appears to be a singular case but warned everyone at the festival to be vigilant of their surroundings and acquaintances. 

There have been several fatalities over the years, including accidents, medical emergencies, and even suicides. However, the incident this past weekend, occurring just as the large wooden effigy of a man began to burn, appears to be the first homicide at the festival.

In other festival news, Orgy Dome at Burning Man was pounded by a windstorm...

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