2023-10-31 14:26:00
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(CNN) — A man armed with guns and explosive devices was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at an amusement park in Colorado, which may have prevented “an attack of devastating proportions,” authorities said.
The 20-year-old’s body was found in a women’s bathroom Saturday morning before the scheduled opening time of Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Glenwood Springs, the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office said. It appears he entered the park illegally following its last closure.
He was “armed with a semi-automatic rifle and a semi-automatic pistol and multiple loaded magazines for both weapons. He was wearing a bulletproof vest and what appeared to be a ballistic helmet. Additionally, multiple improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were discovered ) with the suspect and in a vehicle associated with him,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
“We are, to say the least, extremely fortunate that he did not follow through with any plan he may have devised,” Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario said during a news conference Monday. “It might have caused a devastating impact on this community, with the potential for many, many people to be killed or injured.”
The discovery of the man – identified as Diego Barajas Medina of Carbondale, Colorado, by the Garfield County Coroner’s Office – came three days following a shooting in Maine, which left 18 dead, became the deadliest of the of 580 mass attacks this year in the United States.
A note on the wall of the bathroom where Medina was found said: “I am not a murderer. He just wanted to get into the caves,” Vallario said, noting that investigators are not sure he is related to Medina, although there is a “reasonable suspicion” that he is.
“The scene investigation and autopsy suggest that the deceased committed suicide and the coroner’s office is investigating the manner of death as suicide,” the coroner’s office said in a statement.
Medina lived with his mother and brother, and investigators have been talking to them and searching the home to learn more regarding a possible motive, authorities said.
“We don’t see any story, we don’t see any reason, we don’t see any motive. She was completely under the radar. As far as I know, there was nothing at this point that indicated any type of warning, or any type of concern from family, friends, school, or whatever,” Vallario said.
Vallario added that at least two weapons Medina had were ghost guns. These are kits that a user can purchase online to assemble a fully functional firearm. They have no serial numbers, do not require background checks, and do not provide transfer records for easy traceability.
Investigators also found a “very well-armed” improvised explosive device in Medina’s car, as well as an industrial explosive device, Vallario said. Patches affiliated with law enforcement groups were found, the sheriff said, but investigators don’t know how Medina got them.
With the volume of weapons, ammunition and explosive devices Medina had, “he might have caused a tremendous amount of damage,” the sheriff said.
Glenwood Caverns, regarding 257 km west of Denver, sits on top of a mountain and is only accessible via a five-minute cable car.
“If it had gone ahead, in the worst case scenario, it might have been devastating,” Vallario said.
The park has been closed since Medina’s body was found.
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