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John Rich of Big & Rich was at his Redneck Riveria bar in Las Vegas after performing the Route 91 Harvest Festival on Sunday night (Oct 1). He recalls a lockdown scene inside the bar, during which he provided an officer with a firearm.
Speaking to Fox News, Rich recalled an off-duty officer from Minnesota approaching him and asking if had a gun. Rich says he has his permit and was carrying, so he provided the firearm to the man. From there the unidentified officer stood point at the door for nearly two hours.
Big & Rich performed two sets before Jason Aldean, who was onstage when gunshots broke out from the Mandalay Bay Casino, which sits kitty-corner from the festival grounds. Nearly 60 were killed and more than 500 injured when 64-year-old Stephen Paddock opened fire on the crowd, firing hundreds of shots for over four minutes.
Photos From the Shooting Scene Show Chaos, Courage
The Redneck Riviera is about three miles north of the concert site. Inside patrons remained away from the windows, Rich said, until given the all-clear at about 2AM local time. Many at the bar had just come from Route 91 and were emotional.
“I remember this one lady … she was just uncontrollably weeping in the room,” Rich says.
Jake Owen played between Big & Rich and Aldean and was on the side of the stage when shooting began. On Instagram he shared his harrowing tale of survival. Chris Young also had to duck for cover. Side-stage artist Jordan Mitchell tells Taste of Country she and her band hid beneath the stage during the attacks. All of Sunday’s performers have reported in as safe, although Josh Abbott Band’s guitarist says that his crew was hit with shrapnel.
Country Singers Are Praying for Vegas
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