Sheila E. is criticizing the handling of the Carson Jazz Festival after a concertgoer died during the event amid extreme heat. The musician said she would not have performed if she had known the woman remained at the festival site after being found unresponsive.
Shari Sanders of Altadena was found unconscious in the VIP section at Anderson Memorial Park in Carson, California. She was later pronounced dead. Her family described the incident as heat-related, while the official cause of death remained under investigation in the initial reporting.
Sheila E. says the festival should have stopped
In a video statement, Sheila E. questioned why the event continued and criticized what she described as inadequate preparation for triple-digit temperatures. She said she had heard there was only one water station available and argued that organizers and city officials should have halted the festival.
The performer also expressed regret that she took the stage without knowing the full circumstances surrounding Sanders’ death. She said she would not have performed had she known Sanders’ body was still on-site with family members nearby.
Questions about heat and emergency response
A festival attendee who identified herself as a doctor told local media that she performed CPR on Sanders before paramedics arrived. Sheila E. has also raised concerns about the response time and availability of water.
Those claims are part of the developing public account of the incident. The exact medical cause of Sanders’ death had not been officially determined in the reports reviewed, so it would be premature to state that heat was definitively the cause.
Calls for better event safety
Sheila E.’s comments have shifted attention toward how outdoor events prepare for dangerous temperatures, including water access, medical staffing and decisions about whether performances should continue.
Her message combined criticism with condolences for Sanders’ family. The musician said she wanted the city and organizers to do better in the future so attendees are protected when weather conditions create serious health risks.
Sources: Los Angeles Times and Entertainment Weekly reporting on the Carson Jazz Festival incident.