Glenwood Springs, Colorado – A tragic incident was narrowly avoided at the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park when a heavily armed man, later identified as Diego Barajas Medina, took his own life instead of carrying out a mass shooting. Authorities discovered Medina’s lifeless body in a restroom at the park, where he had scrawled the words “I am not a killer” on the wall. A maintenance crew preparing the park for opening made the discovery on Saturday morning.

According to the Garfield County Sheriff, Lou Vallario, there were no prior indicators that Medina was planning an attack. The isolated location of the park, only accessible by gondola, would have posed challenges to transporting any potential victims to a hospital. Vallario noted that the park would likely have been busy on a fall weekend when visitors flock to the area to enjoy the autumn colors.

Medina, a 20-year-old resident of Carbondale, was heavily armed with a semi-automatic rifle and semi-automatic handgun, along with multiple loaded magazines for both weapons. He was also wearing body armor and what appeared to be a ballistic helmet. Law enforcement authorities conducted a search of Medina’s room but found no evidence of explosives or any criminal history. The police did, however, discover additional improvised explosive devices (IEDs), some of which were later determined to be fake, inside his vehicle.

Authorities are currently investigating the incident, and the FBI will assist in reviewing Medina’s phone records and social media postings. Medina’s plans following his graduation from high school in 2021 included working for a year before enrolling at Colorado Mountain College.

In a statement, Nancy Heard, General Manager of Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, expressed her gratitude for the swift response of law enforcement and other agencies involved in ensuring the park’s safety. The park plans to reopen following the thorough examination and clearance conducted by the Garfield County All Hazard Response Team and the Grand Junction Bomb Squad.