On Jun. 17, 2023, Beyond Wonderland festivalgoers were traumatized after an armed gunman went on a killing spree at the Gorge Amphitheater in Seattle, Washington.
According to authorities, two people were dead, and three were injured because of the shootout. Despite this, the Day 1 of the festival continued despite the incident that was taking place.
Beyond Wonderland Shooting Update
People were shocked to have heard that the Beyond Wonderland Day 1 still continued despite the incident that happened. The Day 2, on the other hand, was canceled as per festival organizers.
In a new development, Beyond Wonderland festival organizers shared another substantial update to the public.
"On behalf of the entire Insomniac family, we extend our heartfelt thoughts and condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of the victims. The loss of two lives, as well as the injuries sustained by others, is an incredibly heartbreaking tragedy," Insomniac Events founder and CEO Pasquale Rotella said in a statement as quoted by NME.
Apparently, the Beyond Wonderland shooting occurred in the "furthest campground" from the Gorge Amphitheater, which was designated for overflow camping.
It was located a half mile outside the perimeter of the main festival grounds.
"It is our understanding that the incident stemmed from an isolated situation that escalated, leading the assailant to flee the area. An officer-involved shooting then occurred to neutralize the threat," they continued.
READ ALSO: Beyond Wonderland Shooting: Day 2 Canceled Because of 2 Deaths - Details
Beyond Wonderland Shooting: Day 1 Continued Despite Shocking Accident
Many festival goers were surprised that the Day of Beyond Wonderland still continued despite the accident.
Rotella, in the same statement, revealed as to why they decided to not pull the plug yet.,
"We made the decision to keep the festival open at the request of law enforcement once it became evident that there was no ongoing threat to the safety of attendees. This was also done to ensure that the majority of attendees stayed away from the campground area where the incident took place," she revealed.
Meanwhile, Rotella clarified that their staff members worked hand in hand with local authorities to secure the area and preserve the scene of the crime for investigators to continue their work.
Check out their full statement below.
As of this writing, the reason as to why the gunman fired at the festival was not yet revealed. The identities of the victims and the suspect were also kept hidden.
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