A Metro Police Honor Guard member plays taps during a Sunrise Remembrance Ceremony, honoring victims of the Oct. 1, 2017 mass shooting, at the Clark County Government Ceremony Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022.
Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023 | 2 a.m.
The Las Vegas community will come together this week to remember the victims of the Oct. 1, 2017, mass shooting on the Strip that killed 58 people that night and wounded 800 in what is still the largest mass shooting in modern American history.
It’s been six years since the tragedy, and the community will never forget the lives lost and families that were affected, Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman said last week at a city council meeting.
“We will continue to memorialize the 58 that we lost plus two other individuals who passed away from issues with that night,” Goodman said, referring to two Oct. 1 shooting victims who died in 2020. “It’s just a nice time to be able to remember and be quiet and not do anything else but just memorialize and reflect and extend appreciation for those we’ve lost.”
Here’s a list of some of the remembrance events scheduled this week:
• The Vegas Strong Resiliency Center from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday will play host to a blood drive at the Clark County Government Center Outdoor Amphitheater, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway. Donors must make appointments in advance online or 877-258-4825.
• A fundraiser for Play it Forward in Honor of Quinton Robbins is 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at Chicken Shack on 110 N. Boulder Highway. Robbins, then 20, was one of the shooting’s youngest fatalities. The foundation, which provides funding and equipment for youth sports in Henderson, will receive 20% of the day’s dine-in and takeout proceeds. Additionally, organizers are looking for donations of raffle items or gift cards. Email [email protected] to help.
• The United Way of Southern Nevada will be hosting a Spanish-language ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Friday at its location on 5830 W. Flamingo Road. It will include food, drinks, music and the opportunity to gather with family members of those affected by the shooting.
• The annual Jus Run Vegas Strong 5K and 1-mile races are 8 a.m. Saturday at the Llama Lot at 900 Fremont Street. All the net proceeds will go to different victim funds, including the Vegas Strong Resiliency Center.
The cost is $50 to participate in the 5K race; $40 for the 1-mile run. You can also participate virtually. For details, visit jusrun.com/races/vegasstrong.
• The annual 1 October Sunrise Remembrance Ceremony is 7:30 a.m. Sunday at the Clark County Government Center amphitheater, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway.
The event will feature live country music, an honor guard, a minute of silence for those who lost their lives and remarks from officials, including Gov. Joe Lombardo.
The ceremony will be aired live on Clark County television (channel 4 on Cox Cable), and on the county’s Facebook and YouTube social media pages.
• The Vegas Golden Knights Foundation, in partnership with Downtown Summerlin and blood drive service Vitalant, will host a blood drive 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday outside City National Arena off South Pavilion Center Drive.
Donors must make appointments in advance by entering the code “VGK” at donors.vitalant.org.
• The city of Las Vegas is hosting a ceremony at 10:05 p.m. Sunday at the Las Vegas Community Healing Garden, where Goodman and Communications Director David Riggleman read aloud the names of each fatal victim of the attack. A bell will toll and a candle will be lit in remembrance of each victim. The garden is at 1015 S. Casino Center Blvd.
The event also can be viewed on the city’s KCLV-TV (channel 2 on Cox Cable and online).
