Video Shows Moment Singer Realized Gunman Was Shooting

Jason Aldean was performing in Las Vegas when assault occurred
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 2, 2017 7:47 AM CDT
Video Shows Moment Singer Realized Gunman Was Shooting
A wounded woman is moved outside the Tropicana during an active shooter situation on the Las Vegas Strip Sunday night.   (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

Country singer Jason Aldean was in the midst of his performance—he was the closing act of a weekend country music festival on the Vegas Strip—when the staccato gunfire erupted Sunday night. A video on Twitter shows the moment: Aldean continues to sing, then can be seen running from the stage as it becomes clear that someone is firing a weapon. "Beyond horrific," he posted later on Instagram, adding that he and his band were safe. "It hurts my heart that this would happen to anyone who was just coming out to enjoy what should have been a fun night." More than 50 people were killed, and police have identified the 64-year-old gunman.

Other performers in the Route 91 Harvest Musical Festival shared similar sentiments, including Jake Owen, who had been on just before Aldean, reports the Los Angeles Times. "Gun shots were ringing off of the stage rigging and road cases," Owen tweeted. "No one knew where to go..thank you LVPD and responders for keeping us safe." The band Big & Rich tweeted "thoughts and prayers to everyone" in Vegas and said all group members were safe. (More Las Vegas shooting stories.)

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