On Sunday night, a shooter opened fire on an outdoor music festival in Las Vegas killing 58 and wounding 515 in the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history.  

The shooter, Stephen Craig Paddock, 64, reportedly launched his attack with an arsenal of weapons “in excess of 10 rifles” from a hotel room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino nearby the 30,000-person Route 91 Harvest Festival, according to The New York Times. He then killed himself before authorities entered the room. 

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The gunshots rang out during a performance by country singer Jason Aldean, who later posted on Instagram. 

“Tonight has been beyond horrific,” the singer wrote. “I still dont know what to say but wanted to let everyone know that Me and my Crew are safe. My Thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved tonight. It hurts my heart that this would happen to anyone who was just coming out to enjoy what should have been a fun night.” 

As the shots rained down on the gathered crowd, Mike McGarry, a 53-year-old financial adviser from Philadelphia, used his body to shield younger concertgoers from the attack. 

“It was crazy — I laid on top of the kids. They’re 20. I’m 53. I lived a good life,” he told The Australian. 

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Others helped victims by donating blood. By 3:48 a.m., according to the KTNV Channel 13 Action News in Las Vegas, the local blood donation center was full. 

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The firearm homicide rate in the United States is 20 times that of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average, Vox reports. Global Citizen campaigns on the Global Goals for Sustainable Development, the 16th of which is peace, justice, and strong institutions. You can take action here. 

“[W]hile guns make murder easier, internal instability or weak governance, or especially a recent history of internal conflict, can also contribute to this sort of violence,” Vox wrote. 

Leaders from around the United States and the globe reacted to the violence this morning, offering prayers, sympathy, and calls for peace. 

Artists who have performed at Global Citizen's own music and activism events, including Vic Mensa and Justine Skye, who performed at Global Citizen’s #ShowupVote event in Las Vegas last Fall, also tweeted out statements in the wake of the violence: 

Other celebrities also spoke out:

On Monday, a crowdfunding campaign for the victims of the attack was started by Steve Sisolak, Clark County Commission Chair from Las Vegas. As of this writing, the campaign has raised $40,000 in fewer than two hours. 

TopicsCelebritiesGun ViolenceReactionsAttackLas VegasPoliticians

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The World Reacts After 58 Killed in the Worst Mass Shooting in Modern US History

By Phineas Rueckert