The Las Vegas Strip will go dark on Monday as one of the world’s largest casino and entertainment hubs observes the first anniversary of the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history.
Lights will go out at 10:01 pm local time tonight to honor the 58 victims of the rampage. The names of those who lost their lives in the October 1, 2017 shooting will be read at a memorial site. Several other events will take place across the Strip, the city, and the state of Nevada to observe the first anniversary of the unfortunate event.
According to media reports, flags across the state will be flying at half-staff today. Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval will speak at a special sunrise ceremony hosted by the Las Vegas police department. His speech will be followed by 58 seconds of silence in memory of the 58 victims.
Events aiming to honor the victims will also include a prayer vigil at City Hall and the dedication of a new remembrance wall. Aside from the Las Vegas Strip, other parts of the city are also expected to turn their lights out Monday night to observe those who lost their lives prematurely in the mass shooting.
Remembering #1October – We hope you will join us for a Sunrise Remembrance at 6:30 a.m. tomorrow at the #ClarkCounty Gov't. Ctr. Amphitheater. The remembrance will also stream live on our Facebook page at https://t.co/5x35kToW8a.#VegasStrong #VegasStronger pic.twitter.com/tSEYdWoOMU
— Clark County Nevada (@ClarkCountyNV) September 30, 2018
How October 1 Action Unfolded
The night of October 1, 2017 was supposed to be a time for reveling for those who were attending the Route 91 Harvest country music festival. As thousands of music fans were gathered on the emblematic Las Vegas Strip to listen to Jason Aldean and as the singer and concert goers were singing along the lines of Any Ol’ Barstool, a lone gunman opened fire into the crowd from his suite on the 32nd floor of Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.
Stephen Paddock, a 64-year-old retired accountant originally from Iowa but residing in Nevada, began firing down on concert attendees at 10:05 pm local time. Whole 10 minutes of a blur of chaos and utter panic followed as people were trying to flee the scene of terror and unmotivated violence.
The shooting stopped at around 10:15 after Paddock had fired what was later on found to be more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition. The gunman was found dead in his room at Mandalay Bay by police with what seemed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
What was labeled the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history took 58 lives. Another 500 people attending the music festival on the night of the terrible incident suffered injuries of different nature.
After closing a ten-month investigation into Paddock’s motives, Clark County police officers said that they could not find any reasons why the former accountant and regular gambler at Vegas casinos would spend months in storing guns and ammunition and preparing to become a mass murderer. The FBI is still trying to identify the motives behind the deadly event.
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