Jason Aldean Remembers Route 91 on Anniversary of the Shooting
On the two-year anniversary of 2017's Route 91 Harvest Festival mass shooting, Jason Aldean took time to remember those that lost their lives in the devastating tragedy. "This will always be a tough day for us. Not a day goes by that we don't think about our @route91harvest family," he posted on Instagram, along with a simple image remembering the victims of the shooting.
On the night of Oct. 1, 2017, Aldean was the artist performing the festival's headlining set. While he was on stage, gunman Stephen Paddock opened fire on the crowd from the window of a nearby hotel. The attack killed 58 concertgoers and injured over 800 more. To date, it remains the deadliest non-war mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
The singer's wife, Brittany Aldean, also shared a post to mark the anniversary of the tragedy. "This day will always be a tragic memory," she wrote, alongside an image of herself and Aldean standing together, looking out towards the scene where the shooting took place. "Always in our thoughts and prayers #route91family." When the attack took place, Brittany was backstage. She was also pregnant with the couple's first child, Memphis.
Just under a year after the shooting, in August of 2018, the FBI closed its investigation of the tragedy without uncovering a motive. Numerous lawsuits have been filed in relation to the event. In September of 2019, MGM Resorts -- which owns the now-closed festival grounds -- announced that the site will become a community and athletic center.
“We know that for many, the Village property will forever be linked to the tragic loss of life that took place there on Oct. 1. We will never forget the victims, and all of those impacted by that evening," MGM Resorts says in a statement (quote via the Las Vegas Review-Journal). "As the second anniversary nears, we remain committed to being part of the community effort to continue healing and moving forward ... It was important to us that the long-term use of the property include the community in some way."
Remembering the Route 91 Harvest Festival Shooting Victims