Investigators release more details in Gorge shooting case
R. HANS MILLER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 6 months AGO
Investigators have released additional details into the Sunday night shooting at The Gorge Amphitheatre.
COURTESY PHOTO/KAT WILCOX
Managing Editor Rob Miller is a 4-year U.S. Army veteran who grew up in Western Montana in a community about the size of Soap Lake. An honors graduate of Texas State University, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Brandee, and their three dogs, Draco, Pepper and Cinnamon. He has one son, William. During his free time, he enjoys photography, video games, reading and working on the house he and his wife bought in Ephrata. He is passionate about the First Amendment and educating communities. | June 21, 2023 5:17 PM
WENATCHEE – Moses Lake Police Department Detective Edgar Salazar is on administrative leave following the incident wherein he reportedly shot shooting suspect James M. Kelly, according to a press release from Captain Brian Chance of the Wenatchee Police Department.
Chance is the point of contact for the investigation which is being conducted by the North Central Washington Special Investigations Unit, or NCW SIU. The administrative leave is standard procedure while the investigation is being conducted, according to an email from Chance.
The email also indicated that the firearm used in the incident was a handgun of unspecified caliber and type.
“No additional details will be provided on this topic (of the weapon),” Chance said via email.
Additionally, Chance indicated that Kelly and shooting victim Lily Luksich were in a dating relationship.
These details emerge regarding a previously reported shooting that happened Saturday at The Gorge Amphitheatre’s overflow camping site wherein investigators say Kelly killed two and wounded three others.
The deceased victims are Brandy Escamilla, 29, and Josilyn Ruiz, 26, both of Seattle, who were attending the festival and engaged to one another. Surviving victims include Luksich, Andrew Cuadra, 31, of Eugene, Oregon, and Lori Williams, 61, a Crowd Management Services employee who was working security at the event and sustained minor injuries after her eyeglasses were hit by a bullet reportedly fired by Kelly.
No photo of Kelly, including a mugshot, is being released by investigators because Washington law prevents such items from being released unless it is being used to help locate a suspect, Chance said.
Correction: The shooting occurred on Sunday. This change has been incorporated above.
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: In appreciation of educators ...
An experience I recently had with a school district, quite honestly, has left me gob-smacked a bit. I am in awe of the teachers and administrators at school districts throughout the region and what they have to deal with. Let me get back to the beginning, though. Journalists often cover a wide variety of topics and are constantly looking for ideas for stories that will matter to readers. As such, when we hear of events of interest, we sometimes ask to attend so we can either cover it, or, as in this case, learn how to cover a topic better.