In a shocking and tragic turn of events, a gunman opened fire at a music festival in Washington, killing two innocent people and leaving several others injured. As details continue to emerge about the assailant, it has been revealed that he was stationed at a US Army base.  When this is the case, it often raises questions about the potential role his military background may have played in the incident.

Those killed were Seattle residents Brandy Escamilla, 29, and Josilyn Ruiz, 26. Grant County Coroner Craig Morrison confirmed the news on Tuesday. Law enforcement officers shot the gunman at the scene, and he was treated in a local hospital. The shooter is now booked at the Grant County Jail, facing two counts of murder. He also has been charged with two counts of first-degree assault and one count of first-degree assault domestic violence for those that he injured in his attack. 

The gunman has been identified as James M. Kelly, age 26. Kelly is a Fire Support Specialist assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis McChord. He joined the service in 2021 and is originally from Strongsville, Ohio. Kelly had never been deployed, according to the armed forces.

The US Army sent an official statement to the families affected by the incident. Lt. Col. Mike Burns, spokesman for the US Army Special Operations Command stated: 

“First, the US Army Special Operations Command extends our condolences to the victims and families of those affected by this act of violence. The command is aware of the allegations against Spc. James Kelly. We take all allegations seriously and are fully cooperating with the appropriate authorities. Spc. James Kelly is a Joint Fire Support Specialist (13F) assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Kelly joined the Army in 2021. The investigation is ongoing; we refer further questions to the appropriate civilian authorities.” 

As the investigation unfolds, it is crucial to consider the broader implications of this tragedy for the US military and national security communities. The issue of radicalization and mental health among current and former service members has long been a concern for the Department of Defense and law enforcement agencies, and this latest incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential risks posed by individuals with military training who may be struggling with personal demons or extremist ideologies.

Just as SOFREP contributor Sam Peterson wrote: 

“Veterans are more likely to experience conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety, than our civilian counterparts. These conditions can have life-altering consequences. The rate of suicide among veterans is significantly higher than in the civilian population. Despite the alarming statistics, many veterans struggle to access appropriate mental health care. The most common treatments include medication and talk therapy, often with long waiting times and inconsistent results. While these treatments alone can be effective for a small portion of our population, the simple fact is that often they don’t work.”

“This is where I believe our system needs a revolution.” Peterson continued, “ Emerging treatments, such as deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS), hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), and ketamine infusion therapy, offer promising outcomes and could very well be the game-changers we need in our fight against mental health disorders, and NO ONE seems to know about them. So here is a quick synopsis. In future pieces, I will do a deep dive into each of these treatments to talk about how they can be used to treat different mental health conditions. Please understand that I am not a doctor, and this is NOT medical advice, but it can help grease the wheels a little bit and get us collectively thinking about the alternative options to suffering in silence.

To address this challenge, the US military must continue to invest in comprehensive mental health support programs and services for its personnel, both during their time in service and after they return to civilian life. This should include robust screening processes, counseling, and access to appropriate treatment for those exhibiting signs of distress or radicalization. Lastly, greater collaboration between military and civilian law enforcement agencies is necessary to ensure that potential threats can be identified and neutralized before they escalate into acts of violence.

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