Two Dead at Sunset Music Festival, Police Investigation Underway

A police investigation is underway after two people were found dead at Sunset Music Festival in Tampa, Florida. In addition to the two deaths, 57 festival goers were also hospitalized. Sunset Music Festival took place at the Raymond James Stadium this past Saturday and Sunday (May 28 and 29).

According to the Tampa police department, a 22-year-old Melbourne native named Alex Haynes and 21-year-old Kissmmee resident Katie Bermudez were brought to the hospital on Saturday. Haynes passed the next day and Bermudez passed away on Monday. While the official cause of death hasn’t been released by the medical examiner’s office, the two reportedly died from drug overdoses sustained during the festival.

A representative from St. Joseph’s Hospital, located in Tampa, told the news station that the amount of overdoses from drugs during the weekend that the festival took place was “frightening.” It has not yet been released exactly why the other 57 festival goers were hospitalized.

“I think people need to realize when they buy something called Molly, it would be like walking into the store and buying soda and not knowing what was in the bottle,” Dr. Tamas Peredy, who works with the Poison Control Center said in a statement to WLFA.

Reportedly, there were also 25 felony arrests, 16 marijuana civil citations and 8 misdemeanor arrests sustained during the festival.

Sunset Music Festival announced it’s 2016 line-up in March, releasing that Hardwell, Skrillex, Diplo, Jack U, Galantis and The Chainsmokers had signed on as headliners. Hardwell and Gallants headlined on Saturday night (May 28) and Jack U and The Chainsmokers headlined on Sunday night (May 29).