One Tragic Event That Made Las Vegas Residents Feel Like Neighbors Again
All Las Vegas locals remember where we were October 1, 2017. At 10:08 p.m. a gunman opened fire at the Route 91 Harvest Festival from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. The gunman killed 58 people and injured over 500. This resulted in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
The Las Vegas Community in the Face of Tragedy
During this tragedy, those in attendance went through a horrific ordeal. Fear rippled through Las Vegas, and panic was everywhere. Not only with the festival attendees, but with many other residents of the city. Employees working on The Strip at the time were on high alert in case the incident wasn’t isolated, first responders were called to the tragic scene, and medical staff at the local hospital had to endure the aftermath.
But despite the sadness, anger, and confusion that came from the tragedy, the Las Vegas community came together like never before. Donations raised through a GoFundme page set a record high of $11.6 million to help victims and their families. Locals rallied together to donate blood, supplies, and their time to whatever cause needed it, and volunteers from the Trauma Intervention Program of Southern Nevada came together to assist victims and families. Businesses also donated portions of their sales to the victims, and even ride-share companies like Uber and Lyft waived their ride fees and surge pricing to those people living around the area. The list goes on and on.
Las Vegas truly became a community after the tragedy on October 1 and locals were connected to each other once again like never before. Through this, the #VegasStrong hashtag was born, and it was everywhere. From social media outlets and billboards to posters and t-shirts, the #VegasStrong hashtag mindset was, and still is, all over the city. Las Vegas became more than a transient, gambling town known as Sin City, and instead became a real community with a united front.
Local radio personality Mercedes Martinez, from Mercedes in the Morning, explained it best:
“There are no words. The following morning was the hardest show I’ve ever had to do. I am not surprised at the way this community came together. It actually brings so many emotions to the surface because we are all in shock, but we put that aside to do what needed to be done. That Vegas Strong spirit is real. And it is powerful.”
Even though it’s been a year since the tragic shooting, the wounds are still fresh. Especially for those who saw the tragedy first hand. X 107.5 radio personality, Mike Proscia, was in attendance at the festival and commented:
“...after the Route 91 tragedy, it was amazing to see how this community came together to help those in need. Never was I more proud to be a Las Vegan. It’s hard to believe that it's almost been a year since it all happened. I'll never forget how much fun I had that weekend leading up to that night...that's how I like to remember Route 91.”
The Las Vegas Golden Knights
Another event that brought the city together was the inaugural season of the NHL Las Vegas Golden Knights. Coincidentally, their regular season began just days after the shooting. During the opening ceremony for their first home game, the team had a touching tribute that included skating out with doctors, nurses, and first responders who were involved in the mass shooting. It was a fitting way to kick off the season. It helped the city begin to heal, and it gave locals something more positive to focus on.
“The Golden Knights were the angels that Las Vegas needed when we hurt so bad. We were able to smile through the tears because of them. It was incredible to be a part of that,” says Martinez.
It also helped that the team shut down critics and had a kick-ass first season. The team won more games than any expansion team ever has in their first season—they became Western Conference champions, and they made it to the Stanley Cup finals. They proved that the city is capable of having a successful professional team with supportive locals and fans.
“The way the Golden Knights came into our lives at a time when we really needed them was unbelievable. They made all the right moves and gave us something to root for as a community,” says Proscia.