A mass shooting occurred at the campgrounds near Washington’s Gorge Amphitheatre during an electronic dance music festival on Saturday night, resulting in two fatalities and several injuries, according to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident was reported around 8:25 p.m. at the campgrounds near the town of George, as stated in a Facebook post by the Sheriff’s Office. Three individuals, including the shooter, sustained injuries and were later taken into custody.
The suspected shooter initially left the scene after the shooting, but was subsequently located by law enforcement officers. As he fled, the suspect fired shots randomly into the crowd before being apprehended, according to Sheriff’s Office spokesman Kyle Foreman.
At the time of the shooting, the Gorge Amphitheatre was hosting a two-day music festival named Beyond Wonderland, with the campgrounds situated a few hundred yards away from the venue, as confirmed by Foreman.
Authorities have not yet provided specific information about the suspect, victims, the weapon used, or the motive behind the shooting. The Washington Office of Independent Investigation, responsible for examining officer-involved shootings, will conduct a thorough investigation into the incident, Foreman stated.
Despite the shooting, the Beyond Wonderland festival continued on Saturday night. However, the festival organizers issued a statement advising attendees to avoid a particular section of the campgrounds. They assured festival-goers and campers that there was no ongoing danger.
On Sunday morning, the organizers made the difficult decision to cancel the performances scheduled for the day. The cancellation was prompted by the incident that took place in the overflow camping area the previous night. The festival expressed gratitude to local authorities and staff for their swift response and extended condolences to the affected families and friends.
The festival’s Saturday lineup included artists such as Dillon Francis and Flosstradamus, while Marshmello and Afrojack were scheduled to perform on Sunday.
