A father of three has been dubbed a hero after he saved the lives of 30 concertgoers at the Las Vegas Strip mass shooting, before being shot himself.
Jonathan Smith, 30, from Buena Park, California, helped dozens of civilians attending the Route 91 Harvest festival escape the onslaught of bullets shot from a 32nd floor window of the Mandalay Hotel by Stephen Paddock.
Smith’s heroic efforts were brought to an end when he was shot in the neck with a bullet which remains lodged in his clavicle – and may do for the rest of his life.
Heather Long, a Washington Post journalist who was staying in Las Vegas at the time of the shooting on Sunday night, met Smith in hospital after he’d received treatment for his wounds.
Heather Long wrote:
Jonathan Smith, 30, saved ~30 people last night before he was shot in the neck. He might live w/the bullet for rest of his life.
The shooting took place at around 22:30 (05:30 GMT), when Paddock opened fire on the open-air music festival.
Although police advised people to avoid the area, Smith is reported to have remained in the firing line to help others, until he was gunned down himself.
It is believed Mr Smith helped about 30 strangers get out of harm’s way, during what was to become America’s deadliest mass shooting in modern history.
The former Home Depot worker is father to three children with his partner, Crystal Jones. Now, Crystal’s sister Tiffany Jones has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the costs of his medical expenses.
She wrote:
Jonathan was shot during the Las Vegas Massacre while trying to secure the safety of others. He was there celebrating his brother’s 43rd birthday when shots were fired.
According to witnesses, he helped save dozens of lives ushering people to safety before he too was shot and wounded. Jonathan Smith is a loving father of 3 children, Jonathan Jr, Jayden Starr and Julian.
Poker player Dan Bilzerian took to Snapchat, fleeing from the site of the horror, to announced he’d be heading back with his gun to take on the shooter, who later took his own life in his hotel room.
Police have since confirmed 59 fatalities as well as a further 527 injuries resulted from the massacre.
One of those who lost their life was navy veteran, Christopher Roybal, who was attending the concert with his mother after recently returning home from Afghanistan.
One man delivered a harrowing account of another, who had been shot multiple time, dying in his arms. The horrors of this mindless killing is unfathomable and our thoughts are with all those affected at this difficult time.
An LVPD investigation is underway to uncover Paddock’s motive, and as yet, the authorities believe he had no known political or religious affiliations and no criminal record.
Families looking to locate missing loved ones should call 1-866-535-5654.
If you would like to donate blood for the injured victims of the Strip shooting visit the Labor Health & Welfare Clinic, 7135 W. Sahara.
A former emo kid who talks too much about 8Chan meme culture, the Kardashian Klan, and how her smartphone is probably killing her. Francesca is a Cardiff University Journalism Masters grad who has done words for BBC, ELLE, The Debrief, DAZED, an art magazine you’ve never heard of and a feminist zine which never went to print.