Singer On Stage During Vegas Shooting Posts Emotional Message

jasonaldean/Instagram

Singer Jason Aldean has written a message of support to his fans over Instagram, asking them to ‘Pray for Las Vegas’.

The country music singer had been performing at the open-air stadium on the third day of the Route 91 Harvest Festival, when a ‘lone wolf’ gunman began shooting at concert goers, just after 10pm local time.

Jason had been the last performer of the night, during what had been a sell out concert.

40-year-old Jason has now offered his ‘thoughts and prayers’ to those affected by the attack:

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

Fans responded to the emotional post with similar messages of sympathy. One person wrote, ‘Prayers for you all!! It is a sad world right now. May we all pray for everyone involved’.

Another said, ‘Sad to hear these tragedies keep happening especially when people gather to have a fun and enjoyable time. My prayers go out to the families of the deceased and everyone at the show. I will continue to pray that the world will heal’.

Other musicians who had been performing at, or attending, the festival have come forward to offer their personal condolences.

Jake Owen, who had performed just before Jason’s set, tweeted about ‘the most unimaginable event’ and sent a message of love to his baby daughter, Pearl.

Country music singer Chris Young, who had been at the concert, described his own traumatic experiences through a series of tweets:

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…

I’m literally shaking still.

Headliner Jason had been onstage when the shooter began the attack, firing from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel.

Jason and his crew members reportedly stopped mid-song and were forced to flee the scene, along with hundreds of others.

Footage of the incident shows concert goers screaming, with one woman shouting, ‘oh my god’ as multiple gunshots are heard.

Witnesses have described seeing ‘flashes of light’ and hearing sounds like ‘firecrackers’.

The shooter, 64-year-old Stephen Paddock from Nevada, is now dead. Police say ten guns were found in his hotel room, where he had been staying since 28 September. It is not yet clear what his motives were.

Police believe Paddock to be the only active gunman, however officers have now located a 62-year-old female ‘associate’ by the name of Marilou Danley.

Police officials have now confirmed the deaths of over 50 people, with more than 400 others left injured. This incident has been described as the deadliest mass shooting of modern American history.

Our thoughts are with all those affected by this attack.

Julia Banim

Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.