Brandy Escamilla & Josilyn Ruiz (Family photo)
GEORGE, Washington | A lesbian couple was shot to death during a mass-shooting incident near the Gorge Amphitheater at the Beyond Wonderland EDM electronic dance music festival on June 17.
The two deceased victims, Josilyn Ruiz, 26, and Brandy Escamilla, 29, both of whom were from the Los Angeles area and were living in Seattle as traveling nurses, were engaged to be married, family members have said speaking to media outlets.
According to the Grant County Washington Sheriff’s Office, 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.
The family of Brandy Escamilla in a GoFundMe post wrote:
My name is Alex Escamilla, our beloved Brandy Escamilla attended the music festival Beyond Wonderland EDM at the Gorge on June 17, 2023 where she was shot and killed alongside her fiancée Josilyn Summer Ruiz.
We cannot put into words the pain our family is enduring. Brandy was kind, caring, the kind of person that would light up a room with her energy and her beautiful smile. Brandy was a daughter, niece, cousin, godmother, aunt, and fiancée. She was a huge light in our lives with a lot of goals and ambitions to look forward to.
She and her fiancée enjoyed going on endless adventures alongside their cat, Otis, and their friends.
Brandy earned her nursing degree at Mount St. Marys. As she was dedicated and passionate to helping others and making a difference in the world.
The family noted that the funds raised will go towards funeral expenses, bringing her personal belongings home to Los Angeles from Washington State, and any other needed services.
The family of Leilani Ruiz wrote in a separate GoFundMe post:
My name is Leilani Ruiz, I am the sister-in-law of Josilyn Ruiz. Josilyn Ruiz attended Beyond Wonderland Music Festival at the Gorge alongside her fiance Brandy June 17, 2023. That night the world lost two incredible people. Josilyn Ruiz and her Fiance Brandy were shot and killed at the event.
Our lives will never be the same. Josilyn is a daughter, sister, godmother, aunt, niece, cousin, friend, nurse, and fiancée. Words cannot describe the pain our family and friends are grieving from our precious loss of a wonderful angel.
Josilyn came into this world on July 13, 1996, hence why she received her middle name Summer, our ray of sunshine. As soon as you saw her she would brighten up the room with her big beautiful eyes, beautiful smile, and contagious laugh. Not only did our family and friends lose a special human being, but so did the world.
Josilyn became a Registered Nurse and had an immense passion for helping others. She loved to take on adventures with her fiancée Brandy, family, friends, and cat Otis. She absolutely loved dancing, singing, attending music festivals, outdoor adventures, acting, snowboarding, and traveling. She had a kind soul and was willing to go out of her way to help anyone in need.
She was a go-getter, and always went after what she wanted with a brave heart. Her personality was bubbly and full of joy, you would tend to find her doing something goofy to get a good laugh. Josilyn was a beautiful girl who is the definition of work hard- play hard. There are not enough words to describe the wonderful person she is and the wonderful life she lived. She is loved by many and will be truly missed.
Any donations would be greatly appreciated to go towards the efforts of retrieving Josilyn’s belongings in Seattle, WA, funeral services, and other unexpected costs.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for loving our Josilyn.
According to a Grant County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, the alleged gunman, identified as James M. Kelly, 26, was shot by responding law enforcement and survived.
In a press release, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office noted that Kelly, an Army Ranger, is a joint fire support specialist assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment, based out of Joint Base Lewis McCord.
“First, the U.S. Army Special Operations Command extends our condolences to the victims and families of those affected by this act of violence. The command is aware of the allegations against Spc. James Kelly,” Lt. Col. Michael Burns, a spokesman for the command, wrote in an email statement. “We take all allegations seriously and are fully cooperating with the appropriate authorities.”
Grant County Sheriff Joe Kriete noted that Kelly “was hospitalized for a gunshot wound and was returned to Grant County today where he is lodged in the Grant County Jail. He is held for investigation of two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, and one count of first-degree assault domestic violence.”
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