October 2, 2017
Sunday night’s Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas came to a catastrophic end when a shooter opened fire on the crowd. The three-day country music festival was coming to a close with headliner Jason Aldean onstage when rapid gunfire was heard and chaos ensued. Artists, their bands and crew hid while fans ran to nearby hotels and attractions for safety. As of this morning, over 50 people are dead and hundreds more have been injured. The gunman was later found dead in his Mandalay Bay hotel room.
Country star Jake Owen had finished his set just prior to Aldean’s performance. His tweets offer a real-time reaction to the events and included sending love to his four-year-old daughter.
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
Chris Young, who was there but not featured on the festival official line-up, also Tweeted immediately following the events.
Spent I don't know how long on the floor of a trailer behind the stage... know multiple people are dead. Listening to that gunfire...
— ChrisYoungMusic (@ChrisYoungMusic) October 2, 2017
I'm not gonna say anything else other than I'm lucky to be alive. As are many others... and so many people are gone... this is heartbreaking
— ChrisYoungMusic (@ChrisYoungMusic) October 2, 2017
The country music community, as a whole, is reacting to last night’s events with shock and condolences. Las Vegas is a frequent stop on tour rosters and is also the home of the annual Academy of Country Music Awards.
Its hard to find words. Praying for all the victims and their families in Las Vegas and all who were affected...which is really all of us.
— Martina McBride (@martinamcbride) October 2, 2017