Two fans suspected of overdosing on ecstasy died at this weekend’s Electric Zoo music festival on Randall’s Island, prompting organizers to cancel today’s shows – a move that outraged callous concert-goers despite the deaths.
Recent Syracuse University grad Jeffrey Russ, 23, of Rochester, and Olivia Rotondo, 20, a University of New Hampshire student from North Providence, Rhode Island, both died after it appears they took the popular rave drug Ecstasy, also called “Molly,” law-enforcement sources said.
“She was a great kid. That’s all I can tell you pal. She was a great kid,” said Henry Rotundo, 73, of North Providence, Olivia’s heartbroken grandfather .
Russ’ aunt, Patti Fanto-Holdaway, said she and other loved ones rushed to the city when they heard he had fallen ill.
“We drove down in the middle of the night after we got the call that he was in the hospital,” Fanto-Holdaway said, her voice trembling. “We lost him before we got there because it took six hours.”
Four other unidentified fans were hospitalized and listed in critical condition. They are believed to have also taken the drug.
Ecstasy, the street name for the drug MDMA, is a stimulant and mild psychedelic in pure form – but is also mixed with other more dangerous drugs, a law enforcement source said.
And sometimes bogus pills that contain no MDMA but other more harmful drugs – such as amphetamines or powerful tranquilizers – are sold as Ecstasy to unsuspecting buyers at concerts and parties.
“Especially at concerts when people are buying from strangers, you have no way of knowing what the hell you’re putting down your throat,” the source said.
The organizers, Made Event of Long Island City, extended their condolences to the families of the victims in a statement on their web site.
“Because there is nothing more important to us than our patrons, we have decided in consultation with the New York City Parks Department that there will be no show today,” the statement said.
But some of the 200 or so fans who showed up at at Randall’s Island and others on social media were furious at the cancellation of today’s performances by German DJ Zedd , Laidback Luke, Armin Van Buuren, Steve Aoki and Sebastiona Ingrosso.
“If you cared about your patrons then you wouldn’t disappoint the tens of thousand RESPONSIBLE concert goers who LIVE for the music at these festivals. While my deepest condolences go out to the families of the lives that were lost yesterday, it does not mean that everyone else needs to suffer,” fumed David Eli on the event’s Facebook page.
“We don’t want refunds we want to go to the festival today!!!” Caitlin Cook said in another FB post that had more than 200 “likes” by 2:30 p.m.
Some fans at Randalls Island said the victims were to blame for taking drugs in the first place.
“If people take drugs, that’s their own fault. You’re going to sit here and take drugs and die because of it — how’s that my fault that you died. I know that sounds mean, but it’s not fair to me. I’ve been looking forward to this for so long. Just for some kids to be irresponsible, it’s ridiculous. I’m so angry,” said Dayna Marce, 19, of upstate Highland Falls.
She and a pal, Katherine Pichardo, 19 and also from Highland Falls, shelled out $180 for a one-day pass to the festival.
Both were looking forward to seeing DJ Zedd’s show, which was scheduled for today. “I just got here and was so excited. I was looking forward to this all summer. I wanted to see Zedd. I never saw him live before,” Marce said.
“I wasted so much money. With that the ticket that was over $180, with the clothes that I bought and the gas money that I spent to get here, I wasted all my money. I probably spend $300. I’ve never been so upset.”
Pichardo agreed the concert should not have been cancelled.
“We found out when we got on the [RFK-Triborough] bridge and the toll guy said it was cancelled. I was speechless.”
“Obviously death is serious. But shutting down an event like this where people come from all over the country, is just crazy. They knew these people died yesterday, why not cancel last night before I drove all the way over here?”
Russ, a Rochester native, was pronounced dead at Harlem Hospital at 3 a.m. today, while Rotondo of North Providence, RI, passed away at 10:45 p.m. yesterday at Metropolitan Hospital, officials said.
The festival began Friday and had been scheduled to continue through today.
“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,” according to an NYPD statement.
Russ was a proud western New York native, who cheered for the Buffalo Bills and had planned to attend homecoming events at SU next month, according to his aunt.
He had been staying with a friend in New Jersey since Thursday, before hanging out with SU and Rochester pals at Electric Zoo.
“He was so excited about it,” Fanto-Holdaway told The Post. “He loved going to those things and meeting up with his friends. “One of his [frat] brothers on his Facebook page said, ‘He lit up every room he walked into.’ He was that kid,” she said.
The family only has a few details of how their loved one died.
“We did not get anything official but we were told it may have had something to do with Molly, a form of Ecstasy,” the aunt said. “He had an extremely high fever when he hit the hospital.”
Rotondo was also excited about attending Electric Zoo. She tweeted yesterday afternoon: “The amount of traveling I’ve done today is unreal just get me to the damn zoo.”
A US Drug Enforcement Administration rep said Ecstasy is common at electronic music festivals, and that much of it is shipped here in bulk powder from overseas and then fashioned into pills in the US.
“The DEA is targeting large-scale distributors for bringing quantities of the drug over from China and India,” said Erin Mulvey.
Electronic Zoo officials said details on ticket refunds will be posted shortly. Ticket prices had started at $179 per day, going up to $499 for a “platinum experience” Crews were busy today dismantling speakers and other equipment, while confetti and other debris littered the ground.
Some of the performers, meanwhile, took to Twitter to offer condolences.