Shooting survivor Connie Long, left, and Debby Allen, mother of shooting victim Christopher Roybal, embrace during a 1 October Sunrise Remembrance ceremony at the Clark County Government Center amphitheater Thursday, Oct 1, 2020.
Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020 | 10:52 a.m.
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As Americans confront a pandemic during an election season marked by political divisiveness, the father of one of the 60 victims of the Oct. 1, 2017, mass shooting on the Las Vegas Strip wants to pause to remember those lost.
Albert Rivera said he would rather think about the day after the massacre, when Southern Nevada’s population came together in acts of kindness, at least for one day.
Jordyn Rivera would’ve liked that, her father told attendees of the third annual 1 October Sunrise Remembrance, which was staged outdoors this morning at the Clark County Government Center.
“Families and friends have ended relationships over differences of opinion and suddenly we are divided,” Rivera said. “But a day comes like this morning and we pause, and we take a timeout from the bitterness because we remember what happened on October 1st.”
Holding back tears, the father spoke about college graduations, marriage engagements, child births and first homes purchased by members of his daughter’s circle. The 21-year-old Jordyn Rivera would’ve been the first person in her immediate family to graduate college, he added.
“Of course, we can’t help but think of Jordyn during these events. ... We think about what could have been, and at the very least that she should be here to witness her friends’ accomplishments,” Rivera said. “As hard as those events were to witness, we were more than happy and excited to be a part of their memories, because we love them and care for them.”
Much like the past remembrance ceremonies, attendees — mostly including loved ones of the victims — cried and hugged one another. Attendance was capped at 250 and those paying tribute were required to wear face coverings due to COVID-19 restrictions.
A teary Gov. Steve Sisolak, who served as a Clark County commissioner at the time of the tragedy, grew emotional recalling the night of the shooting.
“Words cannot begin to express my feelings, my condolences and the heartfelt pain that we all are feeling,” he said. “Three years ago today, a heinous act of violence rained down on our city, our county and our state.”
The governor spoke about the scenes he saw at University Medical Center when he stopped by in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, such as motorists transporting shooting victims in the backs of pickup trucks and cars. “It didn’t matter who they were, they saw someone in need and picked them up and they brought them down,” Sisolak said.
Sheriff Joe Lombardo recalled “the heroic actions and lives lost that night,” which he described as “the worst human loss (that) the community, and the United States, have ever known in the hands of a single suspect.”
He also announced that shooting victims Kimberly Gervais, 57, and Samantha Arjune, 26, who died during the past year because of their injuries, would officially be recognized as the 59th and 60th fatal victims.
“The thoughts of that tragic night and its aftermath still bring back painful emotions, the shock and the confusion. It does not fade from one’s memory,” Lombardo said. “And for many of the victims’ families, I know that 1 October feels like three days ago, not three years ago.”
The ceremony concluded with photos of the 60 victims flashing on a screen as a singer performed “Amazing Grace.”
