A Night of Drug Fueled Horror in Arizona as the Bodycam Footage is Released

A disturbing night in Gilbert, Arizona, ended with three people dead (one being the alleged killer) after police say a group of four friends consumed psychedelic mushrooms before one launched a violent attack.

Newly released body camera footage and 911 recordings reveal the terrifying moments leading up to the killings, including a survivor desperately pleading for help and the suspect charging at an armed police officer with a metal object. What began as a gathering among people who knew one another turned into a deadly nightmare on August 1st, 2026. The suspect, identified by police as 28 year old Brett Eschliman, allegedly attacked three people on the property, killing two and seriously injuring a third.

When officers arrived, Eschliman allegedly lunged at an officer, first swiping at his rifle and later charging him with a long metal object. The officer fired two rounds, killing Eschliman. The Gilbert Police Department recently released additional information, 911 audio and body camera footage documenting the incident. The footage provides a disturbing look at how quickly the situation unfolded and the dangerous circumstances officers encountered when they arrived.

Who Were the Victims?

Police identified the two people killed as Caleb Worley, 30, and Delaney Bristow, 32. Both knew Eschliman and were part of the gathering that evening. A third woman, 29, whose identity has not been publicly released, survived the attack despite suffering multiple stab wounds and being struck with a firearm.

Arizona Desert Mushroom News Thumbnail

According to investigators, Worley lived in a detached, casita style structure toward the rear of the property with the surviving woman. Eschliman lived in a fifth-wheel recreational vehicle trailer on the same property. The gathering involved four people who were acquainted with one another, and police say all four had consumed psychedelic mushrooms that evening.

What Happened? A Timeline of the Attacks

According to the Gilbert Police Department’s account, Eschliman first attacked Worley inside the detached structure. Police say he stabbed Worley at least once and shot him multiple times. Worley was eventually pronounced dead at the scene. Eschliman then allegedly went to his own fifth wheel trailer, where he attacked Bristow. Investigators say she was shot multiple times and stabbed more than a dozen times. She was transported for medical treatment but later died from her injuries.

The violence did not end there. Eschliman allegedly returned to the detached structure and attacked the surviving woman. Police say he stabbed her multiple times and also struck her with a firearm. In a particularly disturbing detail, investigators say the surviving woman managed to locate a rifle inside a bedroom closet while Eschliman was away in his trailer. She hid the weapon somewhere he would not find it. That decision may have prevented the situation from becoming even worse, although police have not said whether she had an opportunity to use it. She ultimately managed to call for help while the attacker was still somewhere on the property.

The Terrifying 911 Calls

The first emergency call came in at approximately 10:50 p.m. on Saturday, August 1st, 2026. A woman who had apparently received an accidental phone call from someone at the property contacted emergency services after hearing screaming in the background. The caller reportedly heard someone shouting for Brett to stop, followed by someone calling Caleb’s name and attempting to get him to wake up. The situation was clearly escalating, and the caller could not get a response when trying to call back.

Just one minute later, at approximately 10:51 p.m., another 911 call came in. This time, it was from the surviving woman. Her words to the dispatcher were chilling:

“Our friend is killing us. He just killed my boyfriend.”

She repeatedly begged for police to hurry, explaining that the attacker was still on the property. At one point, she was heard asking someone to wake up and pleading for help as she believed her boyfriend was dying. The call disconnected before emergency responders could fully establish what was happening. When communication resumed, the woman continued pleading for help. The recordings provide a heartbreaking account of the terror unfolding inside the property before officers arrived.

Police Arrive: The Suspect Attacks an Officer

When Gilbert police officers arrived, they headed toward the rear of the large residential property near South Lindsay Road and East Elliot Road. Officers could hear a woman screaming for help and observed broken windows and a shattered sliding glass door. Two uniformed officers encountered Eschliman near the damaged doorway. They ordered him to get on the ground. Instead of complying, police say he lunged toward one officer and swiped at the officer’s rifle.

Eschliman then retreated back inside the structure, where officers continued searching for the victims and the source of the screaming. The body camera footage shows the officers moving through the property as they attempted to locate the suspect. Eschliman eventually moved into a bedroom and disappeared from the officers’ immediate line of sight. When one officer entered the room, the encounter became even more dangerous.

According to the police briefing, Eschliman suddenly lunged toward the officer while holding a long metal object aimed at the officer’s head and neck. The object was later identified as an aluminum handled mop. The officer fired two rounds, striking Eschliman. Officers then secured him, placed him in handcuffs and attempted to provide medical assistance. Despite those efforts, Brett Eschliman was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:24 p.m. Police also reported finding a smear of blood near the muzzle of the officer’s rifle, consistent with the earlier physical encounter in which Eschliman allegedly swiped at the weapon.

What Weapons Were Found at the Scene?

Investigators reported recovering several weapons and objects from the property, including, a handgun, a rifle, two knives, and an aluminum handled mop, which police say Eschliman used when he lunged at the officer. The surviving woman had reportedly hidden the rifle in a bedroom closet while Eschliman was away. Interestingly, police say Eschliman later retreated into that same closet area when officers confronted him.

The Psychedelic Mushroom Connection

Perhaps the biggest unanswered question is what caused Eschliman to suddenly turn on people he knew. Police say all four individuals had consumed psychedelic mushrooms before the attacks. These substances, which contain the psychoactive compound psilocybin, can dramatically alter perception, mood and sensory experiences. Some users experience hallucinations, confusion, panic or paranoia.

However, there is an important distinction here in that police have not established that the mushrooms caused Eschliman to commit the attacks. The fact that everyone involved reportedly consumed the substance is an important part of the investigation, but it does not establish what Eschliman was experiencing mentally, whether he was suffering from a drug-induced psychotic episode, or what specifically motivated the violence.

Arizona’s Family also consulted a doctor who emphasized that extreme violence of this nature is uncommon with psychedelic mushroom use. At this point, authorities have not publicly established a motive for the attacks or explained what triggered the sudden violence.

Who Is Investigating the Incident?

The officer involved shooting is being investigated by the East Valley Critical Incident Response Team, with the Mesa Police Department serving as the lead investigative agency. The investigation involves reviewing body camera recordings, emergency dispatch records, 911 audio and the circumstances surrounding the officer’s use of deadly force. The police department’s November briefing provided the public with a much more detailed account of what happened during the August incident.

The Facts: Three People Dead After One Night of Drug Use

The final death toll from the August 1st incident was three people: Caleb Worley, Delaney Bristow and Brett Eschliman. The third victim, a 29 year old woman, survived despite suffering serious injuries. What makes this case particularly disturbing is that the people involved reportedly knew one another and had gathered together voluntarily. There was no publicly established explanation for why the gathering turned into such a horrific attack.

The recently released recordings also demonstrate the terrifying position officers faced when responding to the scene. They were walking into an unfamiliar property, hearing screams, encountering broken windows and glass doors, and searching for an armed suspect who had already allegedly killed two people. For the surviving woman, the night became a fight for her life. Her decision to hide the rifle and her ability to contact 911 may have been critical to her survival.

The case also raises questions about the potential dangers of psychedelic substances, particularly when people experience severe adverse psychological reactions. But until investigators establish more about Eschliman’s actions and state of mind, the precise reason behind this double homicide remains unanswered. One gathering, four people, psychedelic mushrooms and a night that ended with three dead.

Sources - SFL Media