“It is important to realize that given the amount of weaponry, ammunition and explosive devices found, the suspect could have implemented an attack of devastating proportions,” said authorities Monday of a man found dead at a Colorado amusement park.
According to the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, remains of the 22-year-old man (identified as Diego Barajas Medina by the Garfield County Coroner’s Office) were discovered at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park Saturday. They were not involved with any rides at the park, but the park was closed to the public for an investigation.
CBS News reported that the body was found in a women’s restroom and the words “I am not a killer” were written on the wall of a stall.
As of Monday, investigators believe Medina entered the park after-hours Friday, while neither staff nor patrons were present at the site. Glenwood Caverns is located in Glenwood Springs, Colo., between Aspen and Vail.
A press release from the sheriff’s office noted that Medina was found wearing black tactical clothing – including body armor and an apparent ballistic helmet with “patches and emblems that gave the appearance of being associated with law enforcement.” He was also armed with a semi-automatic rifle, a semi-automatic handgun, loaded magazines for both weapons, and improvised explosive devices.
After a sweep of the area with the Grand Junction Bomb Squad, authorities said that they do not believe the suspect planted other devices elsewhere and that they do not believe the public is at risk. Still, the investigation is ongoing.
By late Saturday afternoon, the coroner’s office was cleared to retrieve Medina’s body. It determined that he died as the result of a single gunshot wound to the head and his death is being investigated as a suicide.
“The FBI and other agencies are now helping Garfield County authorities with checking the social media posts and cellphone records of the man,” CBS News reported. Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario said that initial interviews and research has not pointed to a motive for the incident.
Medina reportedly lived with his mother and brother in Carbondale, around a half an hour from Glenwood Springs. He had no criminal history. And used homemade “ghost gun” weapons, said CBS.
“He was just completely under the radar,” said Vallario. Further interviews with school classmates are expected going forward.