This Saturday is the fifth anniversary of the deadliest mass shooting in modern United States history.
Fifty-eight people were killed when a gunman shot at thousands of country music lovers at the Route 91 Harvest Festival here in Las Vegas. Another two people have since died from their injuries.
And tens of thousands of lives were forever changed.
We wanted to check in with some of those people to see what life looks like five years later. Have they gotten the support they need? What does healing look like now? What do they want to change because of the shooting? And is Vegas still strong?
For the next few days, we’ll share the experiences of survivors, first responders, those who lost someone, and those helping people heal. These interviews are part of a joined effort with Desert Companion, and you can read more about some of these individuals in the upcoming edition of the magazine.
State of Nevada senior producer Kristen Kidman has this first segment on life five years later, after 1 October.
I think I carried so much emotional baggage with me to college that I was ... I just don't want a traditional experience. That's just not mentally where I'm at in my life. But then the other three girls that were my age in my class, they've had great college experiences, and it makes me happy. But it makes me sad for me, because I'm like, if I hadn't been there. ... Therapy is great for because it helps me just accept that this is my reality. And it's all happened for a reason. And I'm where I'm at. Because that was my destiny, I guess.
There are several events planned to commemorate the five-year anniversary of the Route 91 Harvest Festival tragedy.
In the morning, the county and Las Vegas police will host the 1 October Sunrise Remembrance. It will take place at 7:30 a.m. at the Clark County Ampitheater. After the ceremony, attendees can visit the rotunda for an exhibit exploring the community's grief and healing process.
The “ Remember Music Festival” is then starting at 1 p.m. at the Clark County Ampitheater. This is a fundraiser to support the permanent memorial. There is also a reading of the names ceremony at the Healing Garden at 10:05 p.m., the time the shooting started on Oct. 1, 2017.
For more events and details, visit the Vegas Strong remembrance page.
For anyone interested, the Stop the Bleed program offers free classes at multiple hospitals in Las Vegas.
If you were affected by the shooting and need support, the Vegas Strong Resiliency Center is still offering mental health services and financial aid.
Shae Turner, Kimberly and Billy King, Craig Nyman, Robert and Brooke Patterson, Tas Upright, survivors, 1 October mass shooting; Ray Spencer, responding lieutenant, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department; Tennielle Pereira, director, Las Vegas Resiliency Center