Route 91 Country Music Festival Mass Shooting in Las Vegas: 20 Dead, Dozens Injured

This just in: LA Police are hunting down the gunman responsible for the shooting incident in Route 91 country music festival near the Mandalay Bay hotel. This left at least 50 people dead and dozens injured.

Hospital officials already confirmed the two casualties and the injured are being treated.  A spokeswoman also said that many of the victims are in critical condition. Hospital officials said “multiple” casualties had been rushed to hospital with gunshot wounds after the attack which began at about 11 pm local time. University Medical Center spokeswoman Danita Cohen said the Las Vegas hospital is taking in “several” people with gunshot wounds.

Insane…. this JUST happened. #PrayForVegas pic.twitter.com/RWgjFW7BHy

— Luke (@LukeBroadlick) October 2, 2017

The police say that one suspect is down but the investigation is still active. People are advised to stay away from the area. They raced to the scene after receiving reports of an “active shooter” in the world-famous Strip which is popular with tourists from all over the world.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) said on Twitter: “Confirming that one suspect is down. This is an active investigation. Again, please do not head down to the Strip at this time.”

https://twitter.com/davidsakach/status/914730995147870208

It is still unclear whether the suspect was killed or injured. LVMPD said they were not looking for any other subjects in connection with the attack.

They announced on Twitter: “At this time we do not believe there are any more shooters.”

Shooting in Las Vegas. People fleeing (video from the Mandalay Bay hotel) pic.twitter.com/hs98J5uK6T

— Eiki Hrafnsson (@EirikurH) October 2, 2017

Gunfire could be heard from the scene as the police operation continued. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) warned people to avoid the south end of the Strip. Officers said Las Vegas Boulevard is shut down at Tropicana, southbound past Russell Road.

According to witnesses, gunmen opened fire on revelers at the music festival. There was definitely panic and chaos when the terrified crowd of around 40,000 people tried to run for cover.

Several SWAT teams raced to the hotel and officers reported being pinned down by gunfire, according to reports.

One eyewitness said the hotel was on lockdown, while another claimed there possibly two gunmen on the 32nd floor of the hotel who had shot at a bodyguard and police.

The Las Vegas international airport is currently also on lockdown. Flights into the city’s McCarran International Airport have been diverted due to the incident.

The attack came during the last performances on the final night of the three-day Route 91 Harvest country music festival. This has been held for the past four years on a 15-acre lot across Las Vegas Boulevard from Mandalay Bay.

The shots appeared to come from upper-level rooms of the Mandalay Bay.

Armada of police flooding into the strip. #Activeshooter #mandalaybay @KTNV pic.twitter.com/apy7w2us2A

— Joe Bartels (@Joe_Bartels) October 2, 2017

The video showed country Aldean mid-song at the open-air venue when bursts of automatic gunfire rang out in rapid succession.

The shooting went on for about 10 seconds before the music stopped. The crowd appeared slow to move at first but then began running and screaming. Another wave of gunshots followed soon after.

Concert-goer Kodiak Yzzi said shots came in bursts for more than five minutes. He said he saw dozens of ambulances arriving as he ran for safety amid the crowd of around 40,000.

Festival-goer Jon Bessett described the scenes as “pandemonium.” He told NBC News he heard gunshots but the band continued playing. Further gunshots followed and the band ran off stage. He said, “Everyone was running, people were getting trampled. We ran as quick as we could into the hotel and tried to get on the elevator but couldn’t get in. Everyone was running for safety.”

Witness Ivetta Saldana, who was the show with a friend, said Jason Aldean stopped in the middle of his performance and was rushed off the stage. She the shots sounded like fireworks. She said: “It was was a horror show. People were standing around, then they hit the floor.”Ms. Saldana said she fled the scene and hid in a sewer.

Another witness told Sky News: “A lot of us have been saying this has been a long time coming and look at us now. A lot of people have been shot, it’s horrible, disgusting – makes me sick.”