Page 3 - ARUBA TODAY

A3
U.S. NEWS Tuesday 2 OcTOber 2018

VEGAS MEMORIAL that followed.
Continued from Front "When the sun rose the
As dawn broke over the next morning, grief turned
city Monday, a flock of to anger, anger turned to
doves were released at a resolve and resolve turned
ceremony, with each bird to action," Lombardo said.
bearing a leg band with Many who were cheering
the name of one of the 58 Jason Aldean's headline set
people slain. on at the Route 91 Harvest
"Today we remember the Festival late Oct. 1, 2017 ,
unforgettable. Today, we said later they thought the
comfort the inconsolable," rapid crack-crack-crack
Nevada Gov. Brian they heard was fireworks
Sandoval gathered told — until people fell dead,
several hundred survivors wounded, bleeding.
, families of victims, first- From across Las Vegas
responders and elected Boulevard, a gambler-
officials who gathered at turned-gunman with
the dawn ceremony at an what police later called
outdoor amphitheater. a meticulous plan but
He added: "Today, we are an unknown reason fired
reminded of the pain that assault-style rifles for 11
never really goes away." minutes from 32nd-floor
The sunrise ceremony kicked windows of the Mandalay
off a day of memorials, Bay hotel into the concert
prayer services, blood crowd below. Police said
drives and dedications to he then killed himself.
commemorate the lives Medical examiners later People visit a makeshift memorial for victims of the Oct. 1, 2017, mass shooting in Las Vegas, Sun-
lost in the Oct. 1, 2017, determined that all 58 day, Sept. 30, 2018, in Las Vegas.
shooting. The giant casino deaths were from gunshots. Associated Press
marquees were set to go Another 413 people were
dark in unison Monday wounded, and police said habits made him a sought-
night with the names of the at least 456 were injured after casino patron. Over
victims to be read shortly fleeing the carnage. several days, Mandalay
after. Lombardo declared the Bay employees readily let
The festival venue that police investigation finished him use a service elevator
became a killing ground in August, issuing a report to take suitcases to the
has not been used in the that said hundreds of $590-per-night suite he had
year since the shooting. interviews and thousands of been provided for free. The
MGM Resorts International, hours of investigative work room had a commanding
the owner of the property could not provide answers view of the Strip and the
and Mandalay Bay hotel, to what made Stephen Route 91 Harvest Festival
has not said if or when it will Craig Paddock unleash his concert grounds across the
reopen. hail of gunfire. street.
Company officials That has left unanswered After breaking out windows,
redirected curious people the question of why Paddock fired 1,057 shots
on Monday to a nearby a 64-year-old former in 11 minutes, police have
Catholic church that accountant, real estate said.
offered a spot for "quiet investor, small plane pilot Jim Murren, the chief
reflection." They also and high-limit video poker executive and CEO of MGM
reminded people about player assembled his Resorts International, issued
an evening dedication arsenal and attacked the a statement calling the
scheduled at the downtown concert crowd. shooting "an unforgettable
Las Vegas Healing Garden, Paddock was act of terror."
which became a memorial characterized by police "Oct. 1 will forever be a day
for victims of the shooting. as a loner with no religious of remembrance, reflection
Clark County Sheriff Joe or political affiliations who and mourning as we
Lombardo recalled the became obsessed with struggle to comprehend
chaos and confusion of the guns, spent more than $1.5 the incomprehensible —
shooting, and the prayers to million in the two years the senseless act of evil that
"heal broken hearts," blood before the shooting and caused such a tragic loss of
banks filled with donors distanced himself from his life, along with the suffering
and "acts of kindness that girlfriend and family. that we know continues,"
comforted the suffering" Paddock's gambling Murren said.q