A heavily armed man killed himself rather than carry out an apparent plan to shoot up a mountaintop amusement park in Colorado, his body discovered in a bathroom next to words scrawled on the wall, “I am not a killer,” authorities said Monday.
Diego Barajas Medina, 20, was found dead in a women’s bathroom at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park by a maintenance crew on Saturday morning, before the park opened to the public. He died of a self-inflected gunshot wound to the head, Garfield County Coroner Robert Glassmire said.
Medina apparently entered the park while it was closed, armed with an AR-style rifle, a semi-automatic handgun and explosives and was wearing body armor and tactical clothing, similar to what a police SWAT team member might wear, authorities said.
A message saying, “I am not a killer, I just wanted to get into the caves,” was written on a wall of the bathroom where Medina’s body was found lying on the floor, Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario said. Nearby was a handgun and explosive devices, some real and some fake, he said. The AR-style rifle was on a counter nearby along with a duty belt holding several ammunition magazines.
Vallario could not say for certain that Medina wrote the message.
Sheriff Vallario stated that there were no preceding signs of a potential attack, either at Medina’s residence or at his school. However, it’s important to note that comprehensive interviews with him have not been conducted yet. The FBI is set to assist in scrutinizing Medina’s phone records and social media activity as part of the ongoing investigation.
Vallario emphasized, “Considering the level of preparation and the substantial weaponry and explosives in his possession, it strongly suggests an intent to use them against the community, although he ultimately chose not to do so.”
In the vehicle used by Medina, law enforcement discovered multiple improvised explosive devices, but a thorough search of the park did not reveal any additional threats. Medina’s body was removed from the scene once it was confirmed to be safe by the coroner.
The incident occurred at a time when the park was likely to be bustling, during the fall hunting season when many individuals visit the mountains to witness the vibrant autumn foliage. Due to the park’s remote location, which typically requires a gondola ride to access, getting any injured individuals to a hospital would have been extremely challenging.
Medina hailed from the nearby town of Carbondale, where he resided with his mother and brother. A local newspaper’s 2021 high school graduate list mentioned his plans to work for a year after graduation before enrolling at Colorado Mountain College, a community college with multiple campuses in western Colorado. A heavily armed
A search of his room by law enforcement failed to uncover any evidence of explosives or bomb-making materials, and he had no prior criminal record or encounters with the police, as confirmed by the sheriff.
The weapons found in Medina’s possession were ghost guns, lacking serial numbers, making them untraceable. His attire bore patches and emblems that created the illusion of an association with law enforcement.