NASHVILLE — Country music star Jason Aldean was on stage when a gunman attacked the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada late Sunday night.
At least 20 concertgoers were killed and at least 100 others were injured, according to local authorities, who said Monday that the casualties are still being counted.
Aldean, who was the headliner on the final night of the festival, was able to take shelter. A representative for Aldean confirmed that “he, his band and crew are all unharmed.”
The country music community expressed shock and disbelief at the shooting.
Jake Owen, who performed right before Aldean, tweeted that he witnessed “the most unimaginable event.”
Watching this horrific news from Las Vegas and Route 91 Festival. We played this festival last year. Praying for everyone’s safety.
— Martina McBride (@martinamcbride) October 2, 2017
Brad Paisley, who performed at the festival last year, tweeted:
Praying for everyone at #HarvestFestival. There are no words right now that suffice.
— Brad Paisley (@BradPaisley) October 2, 2017
Martina McBride, who was also there last year, wrote:
Watching this horrific news from Las Vegas and Route 91 Festival. We played this festival last year. Praying for everyone’s safety.
— Martina McBride (@martinamcbride) October 2, 2017
A few hours after the attack, Aldean posted a “Pray for Las Vegas” message on Instagram. “Tonight has been beyond horrific,” he wrote.
“It hurts my heart that this would happen to anyone who was just coming out to enjoy what should have been a fun night.”
Aldean’s wife Brittany, who was also at the festival, posted a similar message calling for prayers.
“We are safe… our angels were definitely watching over us tonight,” she wrote. “No words for what happened… Just horrific. Praying for everyone.”
The Route 91 Harvest Festival is hosted by the events company LiveNation. It has been held each year since 2014.
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The festival had multiple stages at Las Vegas Village, an open-air setting that is diagonally across the street from the Mandalay Bay hotel complex. The shooter reportedly fired from a high floor in the hotel.
Singer Kane Brown, who performed at the festival earlier in the day, wrote on Twitter immediately after the shooting:
This world is sick 😔
— Kane Brown (@kanebrown) October 2, 2017
Aldean’s performance at the festival came toward the end of a months-long tour.
His next scheduled tour date is Friday in Los Angeles.
Billboard magazine describes Aldean as a “genuine country superstar.”
Earlier this year he was named entertainer of the year, for the second year in a row, at the Academy of Country Music Awards.
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