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Las Vegas shooting: Terrifying moment Jason Aldean fled the stage as gunman opened fire during country star's set

Stephanie Soteriou

In the early hours of this morning a gunman opened fire at a music festival in Las Vegas, killing at least 50 people and injuring several others.

The attack took place at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino towards the end of Jason Aldean’s set, one of the headliners of the Route 91 Harvest Festival.

Jason was performing when the gunman opened fire. Copyright: [Getty/ Rex]
Jason was performing when the gunman opened fire. Copyright: [Getty/ Rex]

Aldean was the last artist scheduled to perform at last night’s concert, beginning at 9.40pm local time, which is 5.40am UK time.

In footage that has emerged on social media, Aldean and his band can be seen fleeing the stage as gunshots started to ring out during the last song of their set, with many people in the crowd initially oblivious to the attack.

It has since been confirmed that the 40-year-old artist and his team are safe, alongside Luke Combs – who performed just before Aldean took to the stage.

Aldean, whose wife Brittany Kerr is pregnant with his third child, has now broken his social media silence, sharing a ‘Pray for Las Vegas’ image on Instagram alongside the poignant caption: “Tonight has been beyond horrific.

“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. #heartbroken #stopthehate”.

Tonight has been beyond horrific. 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. #heartbroken #stopthehate

A post shared by Jason Aldean (@jasonaldean) on Oct 2, 2017 at 1:17am PDT

It has been confirmed that at least 50 people, including police officers, have been killed and 100 others are injured following the mass shooting,

Joseph Lombardo, sheriff of the Las Vegas Metropolitan police department, has said that the shooter is dead but his female travelling companion, Marilou Danley, remains at large and is a “person of interest”.

At least 20 people have died in the attack. Copyright: [AP]
At least 20 people have died in the attack. Copyright: [AP]

Mr. Lombardo didn’t name the shooter but said he opened fire on the crowd of concert-goers from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel.

Instagram star Dan Bilzerian was at the festival when the shooting started and shared a Snapchat video of himself running away from the scene, claiming that the girl next to him had been “shot in the head”.

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