US Army Member Identified As Suspect In Beyond Wonderland Mass Shooting
The suspect is a "fire support specialist assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment with the US Army.”
Beyond Wonderland Festival (Source: Facebook)
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The suspect in the mass shooting at the weekend’s Beyond Wonderland Festival has been identified as US Army member James M. Kelly, Brooklyn Vegan reports.
The North Central Washington Special Investigations Unit shared new information in a press release, including details about the victims.
On Saturday (17 June), the shooter suspected to be Kelly, opened fire at Beyond Wonderland, held at the Gorge Amphitheatre in Quincy, Washington; it was scheduled to continue on Sunday (June 18). However, the second day was cancelled following the shooting incident.
It’s said the shooting occurred in the festival’s campground area around 8:20 pm when the alleged shooter fired “randomly into the crowd”. A statement given by Kyle Foreman – a public information officer with the Grant County Sheriff’s Office – claimed that the unnamed suspect “then walked away from where the incident happened” before continuing to fire aimlessly at concertgoers.
The North Central Washington Special Investigations Unit has described Kelly as “an active duty member of the US Army based out of Joint Base Lewis McCord.”
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An active duty member since 2021, Tri-City Herald added that Kelly is a "fire support specialist assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment with the US Army.”
As KHQ reports, Kelly is in custody and remains under investigation for two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, one count of first-degree assault and domestic violence.
North Central Washington Special Investigations Unit has identified the victims of the shooting. The press release states:
“During this portion of the shooting, 29-year-old Brandy P. Escamilla and 26-year-old Josilyn S. Ruiz both of Seattle, WA, were walking through the campground and were shot and killed. A third victim, 31-year-old Andrew J. Caudra AKA “August Morningstar” of Eugene, OR, was shot one time in the left shoulder and received medical treatment at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, WA. He is in stable condition but it is unknown if he has been released.
“A fourth victim, 61-year-old Lori Williams, who was working with Crowd Management Services, responded to the area of the shots fired in a Polaris Ranger UTV. During her response she encountered the suspect who shot in her direction multiple times. Williams was struck by a single bullet that penetrated the windshield and struck her in the right side of her face shattering her glasses and causing bruising and lacerations. Williams was treated and later released at the scene.
“A fifth victim, 20-year-old Lily A. Luksich of Millcreek, WA., attended the concert with Kelly. Luksich sustained two gunshot wounds to her lower extremities. Luksich was treated and has been released from Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake.”
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