Faith Hill and Tim McGraw Urge Fans to Unite in Healing After Route 91 Harvest Festival Shooting
As the country music community in Nashville and beyond mourns the victims of Sunday night's (Oct. 1) mass shooting at the 2017 Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas, Nev., where more than 50 people were killed and more than 500 were injured, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill urged fans to come together and support each other in these tragic times. The married country stars both shared a statement on their respective Instagram accounts.
In their statement, both Hill and McGraw share their condolences for the victims of the shooting, which took place while Jason Aldean was performing on the final night of the Route 91 Harvest Festival.
“The world has endured so many tragedies this year. Each one heart-wrenching in its own unique way," Hill and McGraw's statement reads. "And then this morning. We can’t even begin to express all of our feelings waking up to the news that country music fans lost their lives in a tragic shooting last night in Las Vegas."
Country Stars Respond Following Route 91 Harvest Festival Shooting
In addition to sharing their condolences, McGraw and Hill urge their fans to find unity as they grapple with the violence of this “senseless act.”
“Knowing so many people working at that the show and worrying for their well-being and safety. And the fans,” the couple's post continues. “Above all, our hearts break for each and every one of them affected by this senseless act. Let us help each other find a way to deal with the emotional trauma of these difficult times.”
In what is now the worst mass shooting in American history, 64-year-old gunman Stephen Paddock began firing from his hotel room on the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino's 32nd floor. After firing directly into the crowd of festival attendees below, police believe that Paddock committed suicide before he was found dead in his room by them.
No motive for the shooting has been made public at this time.
Remembering the Route 91 Harvest Festival Shooting Victims