Gorge shooting trial rescheduled to 2026

EPHRATA — The trial in the case of James Kelly, the man charged in the June 2023 shooting that led to the deaths of two women at the Beyond Wonderland music festival held at The Gorge Amphitheatre, has been bumped to early next year, according to court documents.  

An omnibus hearing, a pre-trial procedural hearing to ensure the case is ready to go to trial, was held Tuesday. During that hearing, the prosecution asked for more time to review evidence in the case. A readiness hearing is set for Feb. 23, 2026, with trial to begin two days later, according to a scheduling order in the case.  

Kelly is alleged by investigators to have killed two Seattle women while at the festival after taking psychedelic mushrooms.  

Investigators named Brandy Escamilla, 29, and Josilyn Ruiz, 26, both of Seattle, as the couple killed in the shooting. Also injured were Kelly’s former girlfriend, Lily Luksich of Mill Creek; Andrew Cuadra of Eugene, Ore.; and Lori Williams, a Crowd Management Services employee who responded to the area where the shooting occurred.   

A Moses Lake Police Department officer was reportedly forced to shoot Kelly, who survived but has resided at the Grant County Jail since his arrest. He was an active-duty soldier assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord at the time of the incident. It is unknown how the military will address the situation once the civilian court proceedings are completed.  

Kelly remains held without bail and faces three charges: assault in the first degree – domestic violence; assault in the first degree; and murder in the first degree.