What We Know About the Las Vegas Shooting
The Route 91 Harvest Music Festival was going smoothly up until the last performer of the weekend. Moments after Jason Aldean hit the stage, gunfire erupted and chaos ensued.
Stephen Paddock, 64, of Mesquite, Nevada, opened fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada shortly after 10 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 1. The death toll has risen to 58, with the number of injured reportedly at more than 500, as of noon on Oct. 2.
The Las Vegas Strip Shooting is now the deadliest mass shooting in United States history, surpassing the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Miami last year.
The attendance of the concert was approximately 22,000 people, officials say.
Jake Owen was also on stage with Aldean when the gunfire started. Once safe, he sent out a series of tweets.
Gun shots!!! Vegas. Pray to god. Love you guys. Love you Pearl.
— Jake Owen (@jakeowen) October 2, 2017
Praying for everyone here in Vegas. I witnessed the most unimaginable event tonight. We are okay. Others arent. Please pray.
— Jake Owen (@jakeowen) October 2, 2017
Gun shots were ringing off of the stage rigging and road cases. No one knew where to go..thank you LVPD and responders for keeping us safe
— Jake Owen (@jakeowen) October 2, 2017
Country artists and celebrities throughout the world are sending their love and support for those hurt or killed and their families.
Devastating news about Vegas. We were not there but these were our friends & fans under attack. Spread love love love – it is much needed.
— Old Dominion (@OldDominion) October 2, 2017
Woke up to the heartbreaking news from Las Vegas, my thoughts are with everyone and their families. Love. H
— Harry Styles. (@Harry_Styles) October 2, 2017
Saying a prayer for all the victims & their loved ones, also for the residents & visitors of Las Vegas! This was a horrific act of terror!!
— Rihanna (@rihanna) October 2, 2017
After the shooting, Jason Aldean posted a photo stating “Pray for Las Vegas” with the caption, “”Tonight has been beyond horrific. I still don’t know what to say but wanted to let everyone know that Me and my Crew are safe. My Thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved tonight. It hurts my heart that this would happen to anyone who was just coming out to enjoy what should have been a fun night. #heartbroken #stopthehate.”
The FBI and investigators currently have no reason to believe that the shooter had any affiliation with a terrorist organization. The shooter’s brother, Eric Paddock, told the Las Vegas Review Journal, “There is no reason we can imagine why Stephen would do something like this.”
This is the second attack at a concert this year, the first being the Manchester suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande concert earlier this year.
