Musician Sheila E. Criticizes Carson Jazz Festival After Woman's Death

<p>Sheila E. criticized festival organizers following the death of a woman at the Carson Jazz Festival, where her body was reportedly left in the crowd until after the performance. The musician expressed her heartbreak upon learning about the death of Shari Sanders during the event, which took place in Southern California amid high temperatures over the weekend.</p><p>On social media, Sheila E. described the situation as "very important," noting that the concertgoer died either "during or before" her performance. "This has never happened to me in my entire career," she stated. "It was devastating. Her name was Shari Sanders." She highlighted the extreme heat, with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit.</p><p>Sheila E. mentioned that attendees were already waiting in line at 7:30 a.m. for the festival, which opened the grounds 30 minutes early. She observed emergency crews actively moving through the crowds while waiting for her set. "We were thinking, it's so hot outside ... maybe people were dehydrated," she said, noting that they did not have a sound check due to delays.</p><p>Sheila E. recounted that Sanders was reportedly saving seats for her family when someone noticed her unresponsive. Paramedics arrived approximately 20 minutes later, and Sheila E. was informed that the woman had passed away. "We were all heartbroken because that's never happened, to have someone pass away before ... and it was outside," she said.</p><p>Sheila E. criticized the festival for inadequate hydration stations, stating, "Carson City, you need to do better ... It's not good to have people sitting outside for three hours to be able to come to a festival." She expressed regret for performing without being informed about the situation, stating, "I should not have played. Someone should have told me that she was still there."</p><p>In a statement, Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes expressed condolences to the family and the community, acknowledging the tragic loss at the event. She stated, "On behalf of the City, I extend our deepest condolences to the family, loved ones, and everyone affected by this tragedy." Fox News Digital reached out to the Mayor's office and the city of Carson for further comment.</p>