According to police in the United States, an armed guy killed himself rather than carrying out an attack on an amusement park.
A potentially tragic incident unfolded at the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Colorado, USA, when a heavily armed individual chose to end his own life instead of carrying out an apparent plan to harm others at the amusement park. The man was later identified as 20-year-old Diego Barajas Medina. His lifeless body was discovered in a women’s bathroom within the park by a maintenance crew before the park’s opening to the public. The cause of death was determined to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Garfield County Coroner Robert Glassmire.
Medina had entered the park during its closure, equipped with a considerable arsenal, including an AR-style rifle, a semi-automatic handgun, and both real and fake explosive devices. He was also wearing body armor and tactical clothing similar to what a police SWAT team member might wear.
On a wall in the bathroom where Medina’s lifeless body was found, a message was scrawled, reading, “I am not a killer.” Nearby, investigators discovered a handgun, explosive devices, the AR-style rifle, and a duty belt with multiple ammunition magazines. Authorities also found several improvised explosive devices in the vehicle Medina had used.
Notably, there were no apparent signs at Medina’s home or school that he was planning an attack. However, investigators had not conducted in-depth interviews at that point. The FBI was called in to assist with the case, specifically to review Medina’s phone records and social media activity.
Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario expressed his belief that, given the extent of Medina’s preparations and the significant amount of weaponry and explosives he had, it seemed highly likely that he had intended to use them against the community but ultimately chose not to do so. Vallario also explained that while some of the explosive devices appeared real, others were fake, including some that looked like hand grenades.
The weapons found in Medina’s possession were identified as ghost guns, which lack serial numbers and cannot be easily traced. Furthermore, Medina’s clothing featured patches and emblems that gave the impression he was affiliated with law enforcement.
Medina, a resident of the nearby town of Carbondale, lived with his mother and brother. In a local newspaper’s list of high school graduates from 2021, Medina indicated his plan to work for a year after graduating before attending Colorado Mountain College, a community college with multiple locations in western Colorado.
Law enforcement conducted a search of Medina’s room but found no evidence of explosives or bomb-making materials. He had no known criminal history or prior encounters with the police. Medina appeared to have chosen the isolated Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park as the location for his intended attack.
The park, located on a mountain above the Colorado River in western Colorado and surrounded by state-owned public land, offers various attractions, including cave tours, an alpine coaster, and a pendulum swing ride perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking a river canyon.
Luckily, no employees or visitors were present when Medina entered the park, and his body was found outside restricted areas where rides are located. Glenwood Caverns General Manager Nancy Heard expressed her condolences, emphasizing the significance of the park to the Glenwood Springs community.
In summary, Diego Barajas Medina, heavily armed and wearing body armor, chose to take his own life rather than carrying out an apparent plan to harm others at the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Colorado. The park was closed when he entered, and his body was discovered with the words “I am not a killer” scrawled on the wall in a bathroom. While some explosive devices were real, others were fake, and Medina’s weapons were ghost guns. Authorities had not found any prior indications that he was planning an attack, and the investigation was ongoing with the assistance of the FBI. Thankfully, no one else was present in the park during this incident.
