Las Vegas marked seven years since the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival shooting, which claimed 58 lives and ultimately rose to 60 as victims succumbed to their injuries. The city observed a series of remembrance events to honor those affected by the largest mass shooting in modern American history. A Sunrise Remembrance Ceremony was held at the Clark County Government Center Amphitheater, featuring remarks from Governor Joe Lombardo and LVMPD Sheriff Kevin McMahill.
Reflective of a community's resilience, the day included a blood drive co-hosted by Vitalant and the Vegas Golden Knights. Echoing the sentiments of that fateful day, Erik Hill, the regional director at Vitalant, emphasized the criticality of a stable blood supply. "In addition to the shooting victims, this annual blood drive also honors our Las Vegas community members who stepped up to donate blood back on 1 October 2017," Hill noted, as reported by FOX5 Vegas.
Later in the evening, a healing event for Latino survivors was hosted by Fuente de Vida, with the intent to also aid bereaved families, and survivors of the 1 October shooting. As noted by Fuente de Vida, and reaffirmed by FOX5 Vegas, mental health support remains a priority for those affected by the tragedy, offering free and low-cost treatment to those in need.
Concluding the day’s events, Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman and City Communications Director David Riggleman led a Toll of the Bells ceremony, solemnly reading the names of all the victims as a bell tolled for each. The community remains steadfast, albeit shaken seven years on, as shared by Las Vegas residents in testimonials documented by News 3 LV. Sara Cochrane lamented the surreal nature of the tragedy, her voice echoing a community's collective heartache and resolve, "It's like one gets hurt, everybody get hurt. The emotions that you go through for so many people whether you knew them or not, you feel for them and you feel for the families"
In tandem with these events, Clark County unveiled a “Remember 1 October” exhibit at the Government Center, showcasing the community's response and honoring the legacy of those lost. Featuring items like cowboy hats and letters of support, the exhibit, as Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick told KTNV, highlights the outpouring of love and support for the victims. The display stands as a testament to human solidarity amid travail and a somber reminder of October 1, 2017.
