Candlelight vigil held in Seattle for Gorge shooting victims

SEATTLE — A candlelight vigil was held at Seattle’s Cal Anderson Park Monday night to honor those who were shot at the Gorge Amphitheater campgrounds this month.

The shooting during the Beyond Wonderland music festival on June 17 killed 29-year-old Brandy Escamilla and her partner, 26-year-old Josilyn Ruiz.

Both women lived in Seattle.

Court documents show shooting suspect James Kelly took mushrooms before the shooting that also injured two others.

The 26-year-old suspect is an active-duty soldier at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Lauren Davidson, a local bartender who was at the festival when the shooting took place, helped organize Monday’s vigil. She says this was about bringing the music community together to heal and honor both Joslyn and Brandy.

“We just need more people like them in the world,” Davidson said.

Alexander Fish with Save the Rave was also in attendance. He, too, was at Beyond Wonderland when the tragedy took place. He says the purpose of Save the Rave is to improve security measures at both concerts and festivals everywhere.

“Not just the rave community. Snoop Dogg concerts, Taylor Swift concerts, the gathering of the Juggalos. Everybody is going to be protected by increased security measures and that is all we want to see,” Fisk said.

He says while he didn’t know Joslyn and Brandy personally, he says everyone that is part of the music community is family.

“Look at those two. They were engaged to be married. You know, they were there for the same reasons the rest of us were...it’s not fair,” Fisk said.

Because everyone at Monday’s vigil believes this tragedy could’ve been prevented.

“You can’t go anywhere without thinking that you are going to get shot these days. And it’s bad. It’s really, really scary,” Davison said.

For more information on Save the Rave, click here.

©2023 Cox Media Group