NEW YORK - (Updated: 11:45 AM ET) Breaking news comes from the Big Apple this morning as the popular Labor Day Weekend festival, Electric Zoo has been cancelled. No further details have been released except for the official statement from the New York City Gov website. After the death of two individuals and four other event-goers hospitalized early Sunday morning in critical condition, the festival will release a statement regarding the cancellation. We know for certain that the deaths of the two individuals were indeed one man and one woman, however, the causes of the deaths are unknown. Officials suspect ecstasy in both deaths during the Made Event Labor Day Weekend festival.
“The Electric Zoo organizers have worked with City officials to reduce health risks at this event, but in view of these occurrences, the safest course is to cancel the remaining day of the event,” the NYPD said in a written statement.
The first death came around 3 a.m. early Sunday morning when 23 year old Jeffrey Russ from Upstate New York was pronounced dead at the Harlem Hospital after being taken by an ambulance from Randall's Island. The second death came earlier that night around 10:45 p.m. when 20 year old Olivia Rotondo died at Metropolitan Hospital.
With several others in critical condition, this is truly a wake up call in the eyes of many people who make these festivals such an enjoyable time. Made Event & Electric Zoo will indeed come out with a statement later today, but in the meantime, read the official statement from the City of New York below.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 289-13
September 1, 2013CANCELLATION OF ELECTRIC ZOO MUSIC FESTIVAL ON RANDALL’S ISLAND
Due to serious health risks, the Electric Zoo music festival on Randall's Island on Sunday, September 1st has been cancelled. The City recommended cancellation and the event promoters have agreed.
During the first two days of the Electric Zoo music festival, two concert-goers have died and at least four others became critically ill and have been placed in intensive care at area hospitals. Definitive causes of death have not yet been determined, however, both appear to have involved the drug MDMA (ecstasy, or molly). The Electric Zoo organizers have worked with City officials to reduce health risks at this event, but in view of these occurrences, the safest course is to cancel the remaining day of the event