Friday, January 23, 2026
14.0°F

Gorge shooting trial to go into 2025

R. HANS MILLER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 2 months AGO
by R. HANS MILLER
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. | November 20, 2024 1:25 AM

EPHRATA — The trial of James Kelly, the man accused of killing two women and injuring multiple others at the Beyond Wonderland music festival in June of 2023, will continue into 2025, according to court documents.  

Kelly, who is still being held at the Grant County Jail in Ephrata, has had his trial scheduled for Jan. 15, 2025. However, the trial date has been bumped several times to accommodate the investigation and allow the defense to review evidence. A September court document orders investigators with the Washington State Patrol to release mushrooms and the associated packaging taken from Kelly upon his arrest to a lab in Pennsylvania for testing.  

Investigators named Brandy Escamilla, 29, and Josilyn Ruiz, 26, both of Seattle, as the couple killed in the shooting.  

Also injured were Kelly’s former girlfriend, Lily Luksich of Mill Creek; Andrew Cuadra of Eugene, Ore.; and Lori Williams, a Crowd Management Services employee who responded to the area where the shooting occurred.  

As a result of the incident, Kelly faces two counts of murder in the first degree, one count of assault in the first degree — domestic violence and two counts of assault in the first degree. Kelly, an active-duty U.S. Army soldier, is being held without bail pending the results of the trial. It is unknown if he will face additional military discipline. 

ARTICLES BY R. HANS MILLER

MLHS employee terminated for inappropriate relations with students
January 22, 2026 8:40 p.m.

MLHS employee terminated for inappropriate relations with students

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District released a statement Thursday evening indicating that a coach who also served as a substitute teacher had been found to have had inappropriate relationships with three students.

Motorists urged to follow detours at Hansen Road
January 22, 2026 5:45 p.m.

Motorists urged to follow detours at Hansen Road

MOSES LAKE — The Washington State Patrol and Washington State Department of Transportation is warning drivers not to utilize emergency vehicle turnarounds to avoid the Hansen Road detour, according to a WSP press release.

Hansen overpass closed as of Saturday morning
January 16, 2026 4:29 p.m.

Hansen overpass closed as of Saturday morning

MOSES LAKE — The Washington Department of Transportation announced Friday that the Interstate 90 overpass at Hansen Road, near the Love’s Travel Stop in Moses Lake – Exit 174 – will be closing at 6 a.m. Saturday.