Beyond Wonderland PNW Shooter Sentenced to 70 Years

James M. Kelly, the gunman behind the Beyond Wonderland PNW 2023 shooting, has been sentenced to 70 years of confinement, along with a reduction in rank and dishonorable discharge from the US Army.

The Army took over prosecution in February 2026 from Grant County prosecutors, at their request. Multiple Washington state law enforcement agencies, the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and the victims’ families were involved in the court-martial military trial. The trial was held November 2-5 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Kelly pled guilty to the murders of Brandy Escamilla and Josilyn Ruiz, along with reckless firearm discharge, possession and use of psilocybin and domestic violence. He initially pleaded “not guilty” and blamed his actions on bad mushrooms, but changed his plea to guilty during the trial. Kelly will serve his sentence at the US Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

“This sentence reflects the seriousness of Spc. Kelly’s conduct and represents an important step towards accountability and justice,” said Capt. Stewart Miller, prosecutor, Sixth Circuit, Army Office of Special Trial Counsel. “We will continue to honor the victims and their families, and hope this result brings a measure of closure to a long and tragic chapter in the many lives impacted by this case.”

Read the full press release from the US Army and view photos of Kelly, the victims and the incident here, via KOMO news.

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