Soldier Accused in Deadly Washington Pageant Capturing Pleads Not Responsible

SEATTLE — A 26-year-old member of the U.S. army accused of fatally capturing two ladies and wounding three different individuals at a music pageant at Washington state’s Gorge Amphitheatre has entered not responsible pleas to a number of fees.

The Seattle Instances experiences James M. Kelly pleaded not responsible Wednesday to 2 counts of first-degree homicide, two counts of first-degree assault and one depend of first-degree home violence assault within the capturing on the Past Wonderland digital dance music pageant, in response to Grant County Superior Court docket paperwork.

Seattle couple Brandy Escamilla and Josilyn Ruiz died within the June 17 capturing.

A public defender was assigned to Kelly, whose subsequent courtroom look is ready for July 25. A trial was set for late August, and Kelly may face a sentence of as much as life in jail, courtroom paperwork mentioned. He stays lodged within the county jail with out bail.

Kelly instructed detectives he took psychedelic mushrooms June 17 that brought about him to hallucinate. A lady he was relationship who was additionally shot recalled him saying he thought the world was ending, in response to possible trigger paperwork. Kelly then went to his truck to get a gun and shot the 2 ladies, paperwork say. He additionally shot the girl he was relationship, one other individual attending the pageant and an worker, the paperwork allege.

Kelly, an energetic member of the U.S. Army at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in western Washington, alleges his hallucinations may need led to the capturing, in response to courtroom paperwork.

The Gorge bans weapons at its venue and campground. It is unclear how that coverage is enforced on the venue’s campgrounds, however police mentioned they’re investigating.

Shortly earlier than 8:30 p.m., Kelly shot Escamilla and Ruiz, who had been strolling by the campground, in response to courtroom paperwork. He additionally shot a 31-year-old man from Eugene, Oregon, who headed towards the realm when he heard the gunshots, paperwork allege.

The lady relationship Kelly referred to as 911 and instructed a dispatcher Kelly had a gun earlier than he discarded her telephone, courtroom paperwork state. Kelly then shot an worker responding to gunshot experiences, in response to the paperwork, and made his solution to a close-by discipline, the place a Sheriff’s Workplace drone noticed him.

Kelly then shot his girlfriend twice and likewise fired on the drone, hitting it as soon as, paperwork allege.

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