Colorado: Man With Guns and Explosive Found Dead in Amusement Park

A potentially catastrophic incident was averted when a heavily armed individual chose to end his own life rather than carry out a planned attack on a mountaintop amusement park in Colorado.

Authorities revealed the chilling details on Monday, according to ABC News.

The individual, identified as 20-year-old Diego Barajas Medina, was discovered lifeless in a women's restroom at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park on Saturday morning, just before the park was scheduled to open to the public.

His cause of death was determined to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, as confirmed by Garfield County Coroner Robert Glassmire.

Medina had apparently gained access to the park. At the same time, it was closed, equipped with a range of weaponry, including an AR-style rifle, a semi-automatic handgun, and both real and fake explosive devices.

The Colorado man was clad in body armor and tactical attire, reminiscent of police SWAT team members, according to authorities.

A message was discovered on a bathroom wall where Medina's lifeless body was found.

"I am not a killer; I just want to get into the caves," the message read.

Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario could not definitively confirm that Medina had authored the message.

Near the message were a handgun and a collection of explosive devices, some genuine and others decoys.

The AR-style rifle, along with a duty belt holding multiple ammunition magazines, was found on a nearby counter.

Colorado Man's Vehicle Has Explosive Devices

A subsequent search of Medina's vehicle uncovered explosive devices. However, a broader park sweep revealed no additional explosives, per Fox News.

Walt Stowe, a spokesperson for the Garfield County Sheriff's Office, stressed the potential scale of the threat that was averted.

"While this investigation is still ongoing and very active, it is important to realize that given the amount of weaponry, ammunition, and explosive devices found, the suspect could have implemented an attack of devastating proportions upon our community and first responders," Stowe said.

The Colorado Man, Diego Barajas Medina

Diego Barajas Medina was a local resident, hailing from the nearby town of Carbondale, where he lived with his mother and brother, AP reports.

He had no known criminal record or prior interactions with law enforcement. Additionally, a search of his room yielded no evidence of explosives or bomb-making materials.

The firearms in Medina's possession were "ghost guns," lacking serial numbers, making them untraceable.

His attire bore patches and emblems that gave the appearance of him being associated with law enforcement.

Medina's disturbing actions occurred when the park would typically be crowded with visitors enjoying the autumn season's changing colors.

The park's remote location, accessible by a gondola, presented challenges for potential emergency medical response.

Glenwood Caverns General Manager Nancy Heard expressed her sorrow over the incident, emphasizing the park's close-knit relationship with the Glenwood Springs community.

The motive behind Medina's actions remains under investigation, and authorities are working diligently to understand the circumstances that led to this potentially tragic event.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Man found dead at Glenwood Springs amusement park was heavily armed with guns, investigators say - From 9NEWS