Authorities Detained Armed Gunman Outside of Bass Canyon Thanks to Tip Off

Bass Canyon dodged a bullet after authorities arrested a gunman outside the festival preventing a potential mass shooting.

Held on August 19-21, thousands of people traveled to the breathtaking Gorge Amphitheater in George, Washington for a bass-filled weekend with sets from artists like Kayzo, Riot Ten, Ghastly, Subtronics, special sets from Excision, and more. While the festival was taking place, a police report was filed on Jonathan R. Moody about his “plans to commit a mass shooting” at Bass Canyon.

The gunman was detained in the parking lot outside the festival grounds at 9:00 pm on Friday. Witnesses claimed to have seen Moody inhale an unknown substance from a balloon inside his vehicle before loading two 9mm pistols.

With one concealed pistol in his waistband and the other sitting in his belt holster, he approached attendees asking what time the concert would end and where were people exiting from. Authorities were quickly alerted, and he was arrested on suspicion of one count of possession of a dangerous weapon and one count of unlawful carrying/handling of a weapon.

It’s a blessing no one was injured and highlights the seriousness of being aware of your surroundings even at a music festival. Without the reports of suspicious behavior from festival goers, this could have resulted in a horrible and fatal outcome.

The official report from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office stated, “Grant County sheriff’s deputies on Friday night believe they stopped an Ephrata man who may have had plans to commit a mass shooting at the Gorge Amphitheater. Citizens and security notified deputies around 9 p.m. of a man in the parking lot. Witnesses’ suspicions were raised when they saw the man inhale an unknown substance or gas from a balloon and then load two 9mm pistols from the trunk of his car. The man concealed one pistol in the rear of his waistband and the other in an outside-the-waistband holster. The suspect, later identified as 31-year-old Jonathan R. Moody of Ephrata, approached concertgoers, asking what time the concert ended and where people would be exiting the venue. Moody did not make access inside the venue. Venue security detained Moody outside of the venue gates and disarmed him of the two loaded 9mm pistols. After investigating, deputies arrested Moody on suspicion of one count of possession of a dangerous weapon and one count of unlawful carrying or handling of a weapon. Moody was lodged in the Grant County Jail.”

Continue reading the full police report below.