A mass shooting occurred overnight in Las Vegas, Nevada at a country music festival called Route 91 Harvest. The incident has left over 50 people dead, including the suspect, and over 400 injuries. Gunfire broke out while country artist Jason Aldean was performing his song “When She Says Baby” on stage and it took a moment for him to realize what was going on. As soon as Aldean understood that a shooting was going on, he fled the stage. See the disturbing video footage above and below.
Aldean has publicly spoken out about the incident via his Instagram account. On Instagram, Aldean wrote:
Tonight has been beyond horrific. I still dont 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.
Country star Jake Owen was on stage just before Aldean and he posted his sad thoughts online as well. Via Twitter, Jake Owen wrote the following messages:
Gun shots!!! Vegas. Pray to god. Love you guys. Love you Pearl.
Praying for everyone here in Vegas. I witnessed the most unimaginable event tonight. We are okay. Others arent. Please pray.
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
Owen spoke with ABC News this morning and said he saw people fleeing everywhere and screaming. He also was hearing gunshots all around and hitting the roof of the stage. Owen described the scene as a bad movie that he wouldn’t think is real life. He said he was on stage watching Jason Aldean’s set when the shooting occurred. Owen said that, at first, he thinks Aldean couldn’t even hear the gunshots.
Jason Aldean’s wife Brittany has also posted her thoughts online in the below Instagram post.
The Route 91 Harvest Festival is a three-day concert event in Las Vegas, Nevada and the shooting occurred on the last day. A 64-year-old man named Stephen Haddock has been identified as the shooter, opening fire from a hotel room on the 32nd floor at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino. SiriusXM Country radio host Storme Warren, who was present at the time of the shooting, spoke to CNN and saying:
I thought it was fireworks going off and maybe it mistriggered, and then it happened again. And when it happened the third time, we knew something was wrong … more than 50 shots fired and probably in the hundreds … The shells were hitting the deck of the stage when I was on it.
The Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino has tweeted their condolences over the tragic incident.