One man is dead and another is in critical condition after drug-related overdoses at the Mad Decent Block Party in Columbia, Md., according to reports. In total, 20 attendees were hospitalized, and most of the cases were caused by drug use.
Police reported that Tyler Fox Viscardi, a 21-year-old from Raleigh, N.C., was taken to a hospital around 9 p.m., and was pronounced dead a short time later. A 17-year-old male is also reportedly currently in critical condition. The police did confirm that the two cases were drug-related, but could not yet say which drugs the victims had taken.
In addition to the hospitalizations, police made three arrests for domestic assault, assault on an officer, and a marijuana offense. They also issued 50 underage drinking citations in addition to the three arrests.
This year's Mad Decent Block Party was hosted at at Merriweather Post Pavillion. It is a touring festival hosted by Mad Decent Records. It is largely electronic dance musicians, including Diplo and Big Gigantic.
They released the following statement in regards to the hospitalizations on their website: "We were shocked and saddened when we heard the news from yesterday's event at Merriweather Post Pavillion in Maryland. Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by this. Right now, we are waiting along with everyone else for more information." They also posted the following message on their Twitter account:
As previously reported, there has been a rise in concern about drug use in shows of this nature.
