Story summary
Sheila E., a Grammy Award-winning musician known as the "Queen of Percussion," criticized the city of Carson after they continued a music festival despite the presence of a woman's body in the park where it was held on Saturday during a heat wave that pushed temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Shari Sanders, an attendee from Altadena, was found unconscious and later died at Anderson Memorial Park in Carson’s VIP section while Sheila E. was performing. The musician expressed her disappointment in an emotional Instagram video, stating she would not have performed if she had known about the situation. Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes of Carson offered condolences to Sanders' family but did not address whether officials reviewed the circumstances surrounding the death or why they continued the festival despite these events.
Written for “Music Legend Festival Incident” on 2026-10-06,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 60367 · logged 2026-10-06
A legendary musician known as the “Queen of Percussion” blasted a California festival after they continued her performance despite a woman’s body being found in the park.
asserted
body → know → park
The city of Carson held a music event on Saturday during the ongoing SoCal heat wave, which pushed temperatures over the triple digits.
asserted
which → hold → digits
Sheila E., a Grammy Award winner, slammed the city for continuing the festival even as an attendee passed away and her body remained.
asserted
body → slam → festival
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asserted
Sign → sign → California
All of you guys should have stopped the festival,” she said in an emotional Instagram video.
asserted
she → stop → video
“I’m sorry.
asserted
I → ’m → ?
You should have stopped the festival.”
asserted
You → stop → festival
“Carson, you guys have to do better,” she said.
asserted
she → have → ?
And I’m so sorry that I played because I would not have gotten onstage knowing that she was still there.
asserted
she → ’m → ?
Concerned bystanders found Shari Sanders of Altadena unconscious and unresponsive in the VIP section at Carson’s Anderson Memorial Park, where she was saving seats for her family, the musician said.
asserted
musician → find → family
A doctor at the festival performed CPR on her for 20 minutes but could not revive her.
uncertain
doctor → perform → her
Her family told KTLA Sanders’ death is heat-related, and she had no prior medical history.
asserted
she → tell → history
After Sanders passed away, her body was covered until it could be picked up at 5 p.m., about a half hour after Sheila wrapped her performance.
uncertain
Sheila → pass → performance
The musician says she believed “everything was taken care of” and even said a blessing for the woman during her performance.
asserted
everything → say → performance
She was unaware her body stayed at the park.
asserted
body → stay → park
“This has never happened to me in my entire career,” the 68-year-old Grammy Award winner said.
asserted
winner → happen → career
She believed the festival did not have enough water for attendees, who had arrived there as early as 7:30 a.m. An AccuWeather forecast for Saturday placed the high temperature at 102 degrees.
asserted
forecast → believe → degrees
“The devastating part is she passed away, and we heard that … there was only one water station, which was unfortunate because there was just not enough water for everyone,” she said.
asserted
she → pass → everyone
The doctor who tried to save Sanders’ life, Dr. Dionne Leslie, said she believed the woman was going to make it.
asserted
woman → try → it
“(I was) just trying to breathe air into that woman and for her to look up in that moment, I just thought that she was going to make it,” Leslie said.
asserted
Leslie → try → it
But she was devastated to learn her body remained at the park.
asserted
body → devastate → park
“No one wants to see their mom at a park covered up with kids playing, and music playing, like she didn’t matter,” Leslie said.
asserted
Leslie → want → playing
Carson Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes offered condolences to Sanders’ family as well as Sheila E.
A city spokesperson told KTLA that officials are reviewing the circumstances surrounding the death and cooperating with the appropriate authorities.
asserted
officials → offer → authorities
Sheila E. won the Grammy in 2025 for “Bemba Colorá,” working with Gloria Estefan and Mimy Succar.
asserted
E. → win → Estefan
She also worked with Prince on the renowned song, “The Glamorous Life,” in the 1980s.
asserted
She → work → 1980s
The Aporia
