‘Something has changed in this country,’ Aldean mourns
Less than 24 hours after a gunman opened fire on tens of thousands of people attending a Las Vegas concert he headlined, country music star Jason Aldean released a statement on social media asking the nation to come together and heal.
“Over the last 24 hrs I have gone through lots of emotions,” he wrote. “Scared, Anger, Heartache, Compassion and many others. I truely (sic) don’t understand why a person would want to take the life of another.
“Something has changed in this country and in this world lately that is scary to see.”
Later, the singer announced that he was canceling his shows in California this weekend.
A gunman opened fire Sunday from the 32nd floor the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino during the Route 91 Harvest Festival, killing at least 59 people and wounding more than 500. The gunman, identified by police as Stephen Paddock of Mesquite, Nev., then killed himself.
Thousands of terror-stricken fans scrambled for cover while Aldean was on stage.
In his most recent Instagram post, Aldean, who has two daughters from his first marriage and is expecting his first son with second wife Brittany Kerr, said he’s scared to raise his child in this world.
“At the end of the day we aren’t Democrats or Republicans, Whites or Blacks, Men or Women. We are all humans and we are all Americans and (sic) its time to start acting like it and stand together as ONE! That is the only way we will ever get this Country to be better than it has ever been, but we have a long way to go and we have to start now.
“My heart aches for the Victims and their families of this senseless act. I am so sorry for the hurt and pain. ... Time to come together and stop the hate!”