Route 91 Festival Performers Mark Themselves Safe After Mass Shooting
A dozen country artists plus their bands and crews were at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival when gunfire broke out. Most have let fans know they are safe after the Las Vegas attacks.
Jason Aldean was onstage when gunfire rang out at the Route 91 Harvest Festival on Sunday night (Oct. 1). He was near the catwalk singing "When She Says Baby" when shots were fired from an automatic weapon from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.
More than 50 were killed and 400 injured — that's the latest as of Monday morning at 9AM CT.
Jake Owen was side-stage. Chris Young was not a performer on Sunday night, but reported being there and taking cover in a trailer backstage. Josh Abbott Band, Kane Brown, Luke Combs and more were on Sunday's lineup, and they have checked in as safe. (Note: Side-stage performer Jordan Mitchell checked in with Taste of Country on Monday afternoon, saying she and her team hid under the stage and spent much of the night in an airport hangar.)
Jake Owen + More Describe the Shooting from the Stage
Artists from country music and beyond joined fans in mourning and disbelief after 64-year-old Stephen Paddock opened fire before taking his own life in a hotel room. Paddock's motive is not known. For more than four minutes he unloaded hundreds of gunshots. Owen reports hearing bullets ringing off the stage rigging as Aldean ran to the drum riser for safety.
The Route 91 Harvest Festival takes place on the Las Vegas strip, directly across from the Luxor and Mandalay Bay casinos. Eric Church and Sam Hunt were two of the festivals other weekend performers.
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