Country singer Jason Aldean, who was performing at the Route 91 festival in Las Vegas at the time of the mass shooting which killed 58 people and injured more than 500, has returned to the city for the first time since the atrocity.
Aldean and has pregnant wife Brittany Kerr Aldean returned to the scene a week after the shooting. His wife posted a picture of the couple facing the Mandalay Bay hotel, where shooter Stephen Paddock holed himself up before firing on innocent concertgoers.
On her post, Brittany Aldean wrote: ‘Feels surreal being back in Vegas today. Visiting some of the strongest people we have ever met… fighting the toughest battle of them all… for their lives.
Brittany Aldean and her husband Jason shared an emotional Instagram post of themselves look at the Mandalay Bay hotel, where gunman Stephen Paddock opened fire on concertgoers at the Route 91 music festival
‘You have helped us try to begin the healing process by seeing the strength each one of you have. Thank you for today. We will never forget. #vegasstrong.’
The couple, who are expecting a baby boy in December, returned to the scene of the shooting to meet injured victims of the attack at local hospitals.
Pictures on social media show Mr Aldean posing for photographs and hugging injured victims and relatives of the shooting.
Mr Aldean had taken to stage at around 9.40pm and was playing for around an hour when the first shots rang out last Sunday.
Video taken from the back of the audience shows people crowded in front of the stage before what sounds like fireworks starts in the background.
But joy quickly turns to fear and then panic as the audience realise what they are hearing is automatic gunfire.
The music abruptly stops as Aldean is rushed off stage and fans begin screaming and fleeing for their lives.
Jason Aldean was on stage when gunman Stephen Paddock opened fire on crowds at the Route 91 music festival
More video taken from close to the front of the gig shows people hitting the floor – either wounded or in an attempt to avoid being shot.
Aldean has come under criticism from UFC president Dana White, who claims the country star turned down the opportunity to sing in front of survivors and first responders of the Las Vegas shooting.
UFC President Dana White further alleged that Aldean said he was too rattled by the shooting to perform and that he might not ever perform live again – only to perform at Saturday Night Live in New York City on the same night as the UFC event, TMZ reports.
‘F*** you Jason Aldean. Stay out of Vegas,’ White told TMZ.
White had wanted Aldean to perform the National Anthem at UFC 216: [Tony] Ferguson vs [Kevin] Lee, a mixed martial arts event in Las Vegas.
At least 58 people were killed and more than 500 injured after Paddock opened fire at concertgoers
Country music star Jason Aldean opened up Saturday Night Live with a moving tribute to the Las Vegas shooting victims