**Tragedy at Jazz Festival: Sheila E. Calls for Accountability After Concertgoer’s Death**
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In the wake of a tragic incident at a recent jazz festival in California, renowned percussionist Sheila E. has expressed her outrage over the circumstances surrounding a concertgoer’s death. Shari Sanders, aged 57, passed away due to heat-related issues amid soaring temperatures during the event in Carson on 3 October. Sheila E. publicly voiced her disappointment with the city’s response, stating that had she known Sanders’ body was still at the festival, she would have abstained from performing.
Sheila E., a Grammy-winning artist, shared her feelings in a video posted to Instagram on 5 October. In her message, she directed her frustrations towards Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes and the local authorities, asserting that the festival should have been halted following the tragedy. “I would have never, never gotten on stage if I’d have known that her body was still sitting there with her family surrounding her,” she lamented.
Reports indicated that Sheila E. arrived at Anderson Park at 7:30 a.m., where festival-goers were already queuing despite doors not opening until 10:30 a.m. During her time in the dressing room, she and her band noticed people rushing in with emergency kits, presuming that many were suffering from dehydration as temperatures soared over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. It was not until later that they learned about Sanders’ condition.
Describing the moments leading up to her performance, Sheila E. recounted, “We then saw paramedics, but this was like, 20 minutes later, and we asked and that’s when they told us later that she had passed. Then the music started a little while later, so we figured that everything was taken care of. We were all heartbroken.”
In her tribute during the concert, Sheila E. paused after her first song to honour Sanders and her family, asking the audience for a moment of silence. However, it was only after her performance ended that she learned the full extent of the situation, stating, “Little did we know that after we were done performing, we went back to the dressing room, were then told around 5 p.m. they had just picked up her body.”
Sheila E. conveyed her condolences to Sanders’ family and expressed her regret about performing amidst such traumatic circumstances. “I am so sorry to the family. It just made us sick to our stomach knowing that she was still there,” she said. “Someone should have told me that she was still there.”
In response to the widespread criticism, Carson’s Mayor Davis-Holmes expressed her sorrow regarding the tragic event. In a statement on Instagram dated 4 October, she conveyed her condolences and emphasised the city’s commitment to support those affected. “On behalf of the City, I extend our deepest condolences to the family, loved ones, and everyone affected by this tragedy,” she wrote.
City officials confirmed they were reviewing the incident and have offered grief counselling resources to those impacted. A spokesperson remarked that utmost respect would be paid to Sanders’ family during the ongoing investigation. “We are carefully reviewing the circumstances surrounding this tragedy, and cooperating fully with the appropriate authorities,” they stated.
Witnesses to the event noted the distressing nature of the situation, with one concertgoer reporting that she had performed CPR on Sanders for around 20 minutes before paramedics arrived. The festival continued even as Sanders’ body lay covered nearby, raising further concerns about the handling of the incident by event organisers.
A GoFundMe campaign has been initiated to assist Sanders’ family, detailing the hardships they faced prior to her death. According to the fundraiser, Sanders had lost her home in a fire earlier this year, and had only recently moved into a new residence. The campaign reflects the family’s devastation, highlighting the significant void Sanders leaves behind. “Shari was the glue keeping this family together,” her daughter-in-law wrote, conveying the profound impact her loss has had on them.
As the investigation continues, the incident raises important questions about safety protocols at large events, especially in extreme weather conditions. Sheila E. and many others are calling for greater accountability and reforms to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.