Judge: Live Nation must face Beyond Wonderland trial

A judge has ruled that Live Nation must face a trial or settle a lawsuit concerning a fatal shooting at the 2023 Beyond Wonderland festival. The court rejected Live Nation's bid to dismiss the case, which blames the concert giant for a shooting that occurred in June 2023 at the Gorge Amphitheatre.

The families of Brandy Escamilla and Josilyn Ruiz, who died in the incident, and Lily Luksich, a survivor, initiated the lawsuit in 2024. They assert that Live Nation, which operates the venue and promoted the festival, could have averted the tragedy by implementing stricter attendee screening for drugs and weapons and by removing the perpetrator after he exhibited suspicious behavior.

Live Nation contended that the shooting was an unforeseeable, random act by an individual with no prior history of violence. However, the judge was reportedly unconvinced, refusing to dismiss the case. A trial is currently slated for June, though a settlement remains a possibility.

Victims' families are seeking unspecified financial damages for wrongful death and negligence. The lawsuit alleges that Live Nation prioritized profits over security, citing a prior incident at a 2022 festival where a man was arrested for having loaded firearms. Live Nation disputes these claims, emphasizing that the 2023 event was an isolated incident.