GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO – In a harrowing incident, a heavily armed individual took his own life instead of carrying out a potential attack on a mountaintop amusement park in Colorado. The lifeless body of Diego Barajas Medina, aged 20, was discovered in a women’s restroom at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park by a maintenance crew before the park’s official opening on Saturday. According to Garfield County Coroner Robert Glassmire, Medina passed away from a gunshot wound to the head that was self-inflicted.
Medina, who entered the park while it was closed, was found in possession of an AR-style rifle, a semi-automatic handgun, and explosives. He was clad in body armor and tactical clothing resembling that of a police SWAT team member. On the restroom wall next to Medina’s lifeless body, a message was scrawled, reading, “I am not a killer, I just wanted to get into the caves.” Nearby, authorities found a handgun and explosive devices, some real and others fake, along with an AR-style rifle and ammunition magazines.
Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario noted that they couldn’t confirm if Medina had written the message. There were no prior indications, either at home or school, suggesting he was planning an attack. However, investigators have yet to conduct in-depth interviews. The FBI will assist in reviewing Medina’s phone records and social media posts as part of the ongoing investigation.
Sheriff Vallario expressed that given the level of preparation and the arsenal of weapons Medina had, it seemed highly likely that he intended to use them against the community but ultimately chose not to. Multiple improvised explosive devices were found in Medina’s vehicle, but no others were located in the park after a thorough search.
The park, which would typically be crowded during the fall weekend of hunting season, is located in an isolated area, making it challenging to transport any wounded individuals to the hospital.
Diego Barajas Medina hailed from the nearby town of Carbondale, where he lived with his mother and brother. An examination of his room by law enforcement revealed no signs of explosives or bomb-making, and he had no prior criminal record or encounters with the police.
The weapons found on Medina were ghost guns, lacking serial numbers, making them untraceable. His clothing featured patches and emblems resembling law enforcement associations. Some of the suspected explosive devices turned out to be fake, while others were real, but there was no evidence to suggest that explosive devices had been placed elsewhere in the park.
Fortunately, no employees or visitors were present at the park when Medina entered, ensuring the safety of those in the vicinity.