The accused gunman in the shooting at Beyond Wonderland music festival in Washington State was high on hallucinogenic mushrooms and thought the world was ending, according to charging documents.
Police said James Kelly, 26 — an active-duty member of the U.S Army stationed at Washington’s Joint Base Lewis-McChord — blamed his drug use for the rampage in which he killed two people and wounded three others on June 17 during the festival at the Gorge Amphitheatre, Seattle NBC affiliate KING 5 reported.
Kelly told police he took the shrooms even though he’d previously had a “bad trip” on mushrooms from the same source, according to Spokane NBC affiliate KHQ.
When the hallucinations began, Kelly insisted on leaving the concert alongside his girlfriend, Lily Luksich, and went back to his truck to grab a gun, Luksich told police. She told investigators that Kelly turned to her and said, “This is the end.”
Police said that after pulling the weapon, Kelly walked away from the truck and fatally shot Brandy Escamilla, 29, and Josilyn Ruiz, 26, KING reported. Escamilla and Ruiz were engaged to be married.
Investigators said another festival attendee, Andrew Caudra, 31, heard the shots and ran toward them, according to KHQ. Kelly responded by shooting at Caudra, hitting him in the shoulder, cops said.
After that, Luksich tried calling 911 to report Kelly’s actions, but he grabbed her phone and tossed it. Security guard Lori Wiliams, 61, responded to the initial gunfire, and Kelly then shot at her, according to investigators. A bullet struck her glasses and caused facial injuries.
Kelly and Luksich then walked to a nearby field, where Luksich walked away from Kelly and then back toward him with her arms raised, police said. Kelly responded by shooting Luksich in the foot and leg, cops said.
He has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault and one count of domestic violence assault.