SEATTLE — About 100 people gathered near the fountain at Seattle's Cal Anderson Park Monday night to honor and remember Josilyn Ruiz and Brandy Escamilla, the two people killed near the Gorge Amphitheatre on June 17.
"These were two beautiful women who would’ve done anything for each and everyone one of us. I know that," said Alexander Fisk, who attended the Beyond Wonderland music festival.
Some vigil attendees recited poems, some urged festivalgoers to reach out for mental health support, and others expressed calls for action to create safer events.
"These are members of the community that we loved," Fisk said. "Even if I didn’t know them personally, I know why they went to that show, I know what they were planning on doing, I know all the knick-knacks and stuff that they bought, cause I bought those things too, and if I went home without one of my loved ones, I don’t know what I would do."
Lauren Davidson, a Seattleite who also attended the festival, organized the vigil.
"[To] honor those who were lost," Davidson said. "And also if anybody’s feeling alone, feeling like they’re still suffering from the events that have occurred or any kind of gun event that has occurred, hopefully, this is a good healing time for us all."
The mass shooting has shaken festivalgoers to their core; particularly the EDM community, whose mantra is "peace, love, unity, respect and responsibility."
"It could have been any of us," Davidson said. "I don't feel safe to go anywhere without thinking about getting shot now."
Vigil attendees told KING 5 they are hoping leaders will turn their grief into action.
"We’re gonna contact Insomniac and Live Nation and get out to the venues themselves," Fisk said. "I mean we’re not condemning them for what happened, it’s not their fault for what happened, we just have to do better next time."
Ruiz, 26, and Escamilla, 29, of Seattle were killed and two other people were injured when a 26-year-old man allegedly was having a hallucination, according to court documents.
James M. Kelly, 26, appeared in Grant County Superior Court on June 21. A judge found probable cause to detain him without bail. Kelly is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree assault and one count of first-degree assault domestic violence.
Ruiz and Escamilla were engaged. The attorney of one of the victims' families believes the couple had no relationship with the shooter.
"They did not know the suspect," said Kevin Boyle of Panish Shea Boyle Ravipudi LLP.
Boyle told KING 5 it is possible that the two young women were killed while they were trying to help another victim.
"And that Josilyn and her fiancée Brandy stepped in to help the victim of the domestic violence," Boyle said. "And then shots started ringing out."
The victims were nurses working at Providence Swedish First Hill Campus. Ruiz graduated from nursing school in 2018. Ruiz's sister-in-law said on a GoFundMe page that Ruiz had a contagious laugh and loved dancing, singing, and attending music festivals.
"The Ruiz family love Josilyn, and they're devastated," Boyle said. "As an attorney, I'm looking into, 'Why did this happen?'"
'I am still processing it'
Another victim, 20-year-old Lily Luksich, said in a statement on her GoFundMe page that she remains hospitalized at Harborview Medical Center.
"The past 10 days has been overwhelming as you can imagine," the statement reads. "What happened to me and the other victims on June 17th at the Gorge was an unthinkable tragedy. My deepest sympathies goes out to the other victims and their families/friends who have been affected. I am still processing it all and will be for a long time.
"Currently, I am still hospitalized at Harborview Medical Center, but every day I am improving under the care of my nurses, doctors, family and close friends. My recovery is going well, but it is difficult as I try to stay optimistic. I would like to thank my family, friends, my local community and strangers who have been supporting me, sending well wishes and praying for me. It is felt and is giving me the strength I need to fight. I wish you all well and thank you so much!"
Statement from Gorge Amphitheater
The Gorge Amphitheater released its first statement since the shooting Wednesday, saying:
"We're incredibly grateful to the first responders who acted quickly to respond to the incident at the campgrounds this past weekend, as well as our broader community for their outpouring of support these last few days.
"Our thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones and the entire Beyond Wonderland community. We've been working closely with the festival team to assist fans and crew however we can, and we are supporting local authorities as they continue their investigation."
The Gorge said shows scheduled at the Amphitheater for July 7 are planned to go on as scheduled. The venue said it would continue to partner with local authorities regarding security plans.