UNLV student and shooting survivor Karessa Royce speaks during a remembrance ceremony at UNLV Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017. The event was held to honor those from the UNLV family who lost their lives or were injured during the Oct. 1 mass shooting on the Las Vegas Strip.
Friday, Nov. 3, 2017 | 2 a.m.
One month after the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, scars remain deep in Las Vegas community members affected by the tragedy.
A trio of shooting survivors spoke about their experience at a remembrance event at the UNLV Alumni Amphitheater on Thursday.
“I called the events that happened at Route 91 a ‘life change.’ Not the ‘shooting,’ not the ‘massacre,’ not the ‘tragedy,’ but a 'life change,’ because that is what is was,” said Karessa Royce, a UNLV hospitality student who was one of hundreds shot. “For my own healing process, that is what I need to call it. That is the only perspective I can take on it.”
Recalling her saving grace of the night, she said her friend immediately came to her aid, shielded her and whisked her away to safety.
“I’m here today because someone was more focused on saving my life than protecting her own,” she said. “When I was shot and hit the floor in shock, Pamela Rios told me that she would die there with me or that we would get out together.”
Royce suffered a collapsed lung after being hit by one of the thousands of bullets the gunman sprayed at the crowd of 22,000. After they got to to the Tropicana, Royce took an ambulance and was admitted to the intensive care unit at Sunrise Hospital.
“Pam, you saved my life,” Royce said, fighting through tears.
She said she was in awe of how strangers and first responders reacted in the face of terror.
“I’m thankful that in the midst of one man doing his worst, I saw the best in so many,” she said. “I witnessed heroism, kindness, selflessness and courage that surpassed any vocabulary I can possess.”
Joshua Abellera, a student at UNLV’s education college, broke his leg as he was scaling a fence to escape the hysteria behind him.
“I was fortunate enough to have a broken leg,” Abellera said. “Some people were less fortunate.”
Abellera credited the university with helping him cope with the aftermath of the shooting.
“The UNLV community was such a wonderful help with my processing of this tragedy,” he said. “Each student here who passes by me every single day … has touched me.”
UNLV President Len Jessup applauded how the university stepped up immediately after the shooting, opening the the Thomas & Mack Center as an area of refuge.
“It was opened with staff and their families, showing up within moments and spending the entire night (there),” Jessup said. “They brought their own blankets and food and water … and anything (victims) needed.”
Faculty and staff from the schools of nursing and medicine went to University Medical Center to provide assistance as droves of injured concertgoers arrived. Various student-run organizations set up vigils and ran drives to accumulate goods and money for victims and their families.
Jessup also recalled the pregame tribute Oct. 7 at Sam Boyd Stadium. UNLV and San Diego State University football players wore red ribbon decals on their helmets.
“It is truly impressive — there is no way that I could go through the entire list today,” Jessup said. “I just want to say thank you to our entire campus community for responding and offering comfort, support and compassion.
“In the minutes, hours and days following the (event), your actions once again epitomized all that’s good about this university. Joining with the Las Vegas community, this campus has showed the world we are indeed Vegas Strong.”
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy