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Gunman Opens Fire on Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas

Jake Owen described the horrifying incident as "the most unimaginable event" and asked his fans to "please pray." 

Written by Lauren Jo Black
Gunman Opens Fire on Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas
People carry a peson at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after apparent gun fire was heard on October 1, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. There are reports of an active shooter around the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

**This post has been updated**

A gunman opened fire on the Route 91 Harvest Festival from the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas Sunday evening (Oct. 1), killing at least 20 people and injuring 100+. The mass shooting occurred around 10:30 pm during Jason Aldean’s headlining set, which was closing out the popular three-day festival.

Dozens of patrol vehicles responded to the incident after receiving reports of shots being fired. The Las Vegas Police Department urged people to avoid the area as the active shooter situation was being investigated.

Concertgoers fled the scene to take cover as gunfire rained down on the concert venue. Witness said they heard “nonstop gunfire” as fans fled.

One witness recalled the events to ABC News, saying he initially thought he heard fireworks.

“My buddy’s like I just got hit. He got hit three times. Then people started diving for the ground and it just continued. It was pretty much chaoitic. Lots of people got hit,” he said. “It took a while to get him out. We had to get him over the fence and hiding under the stage for a while to be safe. Finally, we had to move him because he got three chest wounds.”

The man helped his friend and others get to an ambulance across the street.

“The one guy ended up dying in my arms,” he told the reporter.

Las Vegas PD later confirmed that one suspect was down. Although initial reports suggested that there was more than one shooter, the police department later shared an update on Twitter saying that they “do not believe there are any more shooters.”

Flights in and out of nearby McCarran International Airport were temporarily halted due to the incident.

Aldean, Jake Owen, Luke Combs, Big & Rich, Dylan Scott, Kane Brown, Adam Craig, Josh Abbott Band, Dylan Schneider, Tyler Reeve, Muscadine Bloodline, Jordan Mitchell, and Dee Jay Silver were on the concert lineup for Sunday.

After the shooting, Owen shared an update via Twitter writing, “Gun shots!!! Vegas. Pray to god. Love you guys. Love you Pearl.”

The singer later shared another update, calling it “the most unimaginable event” and asked his fans to “please pray.”

Combs, Big & Rich, and others at the festival took to Twitter to update fans on their well being.

**UPDATE: As of 11:30 a.m. CST, the death toll has risen to at least 58, with 515 victims injured.

Tags: Jake Owen, Jason Aldean, Route 91 Harvest Festival