No clear motive found in Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park investigation
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. (KREX) — The Garfield County Sheriff’s Department has completed its investigation into the armed man found deceased at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park Oct. 28.
Friends, family and school officials described 20-year-old Diego Barajas-Medina as being a bit of a loner. Barajas-Medina lived quietly with his mother and brother in Carbondale; he had no prior run-ins with law enforcement and there was no reason to believe he was a threat to others.
The investigation also found Barajas-Medina had no contact with mental health services. According to officials, there was no indication that Barajas-Medina was working with any other individual or group, that he was part of an extremist group or that he was operating on orders from any drug cartel or terrorist group.
Barajas-Medina took his own life in the women’s restroom of the park; before doing so, he wrote on one of the restroom walls, “I’m not a killer, I just wanted to get in the cave.” Authorities do not know why he chose the women’s restroom or what the message on the wall means.
Officials searched Barajas-Medina’s residence initially while the investigation was proceeding at the park. A search of Barajas-Medina’s phone and computer showed he’d visited several sites discussing other mass shootings.
The investigation did not uncover any motive for Barajas-Medina to assemble such a lethal arsenal nor did it explain why he changed his mind and decided not to follow through on his plans, the details of which investigators do not know.
Toxicology reports showed no trace of alcohol or other illegal drugs in his system.
Barajas-Medina entered the park illegally after hours when it was empty. He was wearing black tactical clothing with patches and emblems that gave the appearance of being associated with law enforcement. He was wearing body armor and what authorities believe to be a ballistic helmet.
Barajas-Medina had a semi-automatic rifle and a semi-automatic handgun with multiple magazines and several hundred rounds of ammunition for each weapon. These weapons were determined to be “ghost guns,” or unregulated, unserialized and untraceable firearms that anyone can buy and build without a background check.
He also had multiple improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on and near him and in a vehicle he used to drive to the park. The Grand Junction Bomb Squad was called to the scene and responders found that some of the IEDs were decoys. Investigators found Barajas-Medina obtained all of his weapons, ammunition and tactical equipment legally by ordering them from various websites.
Investigators found no ties between Barajas-Medina and the Glenwood Cavern Adventure Park.
This investigation is closed and no further information will be released.
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