Alejandro “Alex” Omes, co-founder of Ultra Music Festival and a mainstay in Miami’s club scene, died on Monday night. Omes, who was a native of Miami, was 43. There’s no word yet on the cause of death and his passing certainly took many by surprise.
According to the Miami Herald, Omes was discovered in his bed at his Miami Beach home after he failed to show Monday for a court date, said his friend Carmel Ophir, former owner of the The Vagabond in downtown Miami.
In a statement, officials with the festival wrote, “The organizers of Ultra Music Festival extend their deepest condolences to the family of Alex Omes and are saddened by the news of his passing. We will continue to remember and celebrate Alex for his love, passion and contributions to the Electronic Dance Music community.”
Omes started UMF in 1999 with then-partner Russell Faibisch. He left Ultra in 2010 and went on to present various shows for Swedish House Mafia while UMF expanded to Tokyo, Johannesburg, São Paulo, Seoul, Cape Town and Split and Hvar, Croatia.
This is a developing story and will be updated.