Deaths Around Festival Being Investigated by Police

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police are reporting two deaths that happened amid EDC Las Vegas 2025, the dance music mega-festival that happened at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway this past weekend, May 16-18.

A statement provided to Billboard by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) says that “after discussions with the coroner’s office, LVMPD will be reviewing the separate deaths of two individuals who were in Las Vegas this weekend to attend EDC.

“One had a medical episode at the event and was transported to UMC where the individual was later pronounced deceased,” the statement continues. “The other was discovered in a hotel room deceased. It is believed that the individual was in Las Vegas to attend the event.”

As reported by the Las Vegas Review Journal, the deceased are Azmi Atassi, 33, of Flagstaff, Ariz., and Opkar Mahal, 39, of North Las Vegas. Both died Sunday (May 18), according to the Clark County coroner’s office, with causes of death still pending.

The Review Journal also reports that “Mahal was reported dead at the festival, which took place at the the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, in the 7000 block of Las Vegas Boulevard North… while Atassi was reported dead at the Hilton Grand Vacations Club at 2650 Las Vegas Boulevard South.”

EDC Las Vegas is the flagship event of Insomniac Events, which produces a host of global dance music festivals around the world, with editions of EDC happening in China, South Korea, Orlando, Thailand and beyond. It’s been based at the Motor Speedway since moving to Las Vegas from Los Angeles in 2011.