Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Supported by

Strip Shooting Memorial Advances With Land Donation, Survey

Crosses were erected on the Strip after the Oct. 1, 2017, mass shooting. Plans for a permanent memorial advanced this month.
Associated Press

Crosses were erected on the Strip after the Oct. 1, 2017, mass shooting. Plans for a permanent memorial advanced this month.

Plans to honor the victims of the Oct. 1, 2017, mass shooting on the Strip moved forward this month with the donation of land that will be used for a memorial.

MGM Resorts International donated 2 acres at the site of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history as a home for a permanent memorial. The land had been part of a festival grounds targeted by a lone gunman who opened fire from a nearby hotel tower during a country music concert, killing 60 and wounding and injuring hundreds more.

Clark County Commissioner Jim Gibson, whose district includes the site of the shooting, told State of Nevada that this was an important milestone, with the community soon to mark four years since the shooting.

“The festival site was one of the options that people favored more than any other," he said. "So they've been thinking about this for a long time”

With the site selected, a memorial committee is moving forward to develop a design for the memorial. Those interested h ave until Sunday to make their voices heard through an online survey about what elements the memorial should include.

Gibson said the committee developing the memorial wants to hear from the broad community, not just those who were at the concert.

"All of us were affected," he said, "and what we're seeing in the responses to the surveys is that people who were affected, much like I was affected, are adding their voice to the discussion.

"It isn't just family and friends and people that were involved in the rescue."

Information gathered in the survey will be used to develop a request for proposals from artists and designers.

Tenille Pereira, chairwoman of the 1 October Memorial Committee, said progress in developing the site needs to be balanced with sensitivity.

“Well, we've actually come a long way,” she said. “This process is really important not to rush because it is a healing process.”

She said the results of earlier surveys and focus groups demonstrate the complexity of the situation.

“We heard from the community, that the education component of the memorial is very important, but what does education mean in regards to a memorial? So they came out with different things, like, for example, stories of heroism, or the biographies of those that we lost that night? Or how about the lessons learned? Or what about mental health,” she said. “So those are listed, and people can go and vote on those and say, you know, I strongly agree that that should be part of the memorial.”

Jim Gibson, Clark County commissioner, represents site of shooting;  Tenille Pereira, chairwoman, 1 October Memorial Committee

Stay Connected
Mike has been a producer for State of Nevada since 2019. He produces — and occasionally hosts — segments covering entertainment, gaming & tourism, sports, health, Nevada’s marijuana industry, and other areas of Nevada life.