The United States is in mourning after the horrific shooting that took place at an outdoor music concert in Las Vegas October 1 that claimed the lives of 58 people and wounded hundreds more.
The shooter was found dead from apparently self-inflicted wounds in the hotel room where he carried out the attack. Investigators have not yet attributed a motive for the largest mass shooting in modern American history, but the FBI has said no evidence of terrorism has emerged so far.
President Donald Trump flew to Las Vegas to meet with victims of the massacre, and speak to first responders, law enforcement officials and civilians who came to the aid of their countrymen during attack.
There are many such people in the latter category: men like Jonathan Smith who is credited with saving the lives of at least 30 people, until he was felled by two bullets and dragged to safety by off-duty policeman Tom McGrath; or cab driver John Zerquera-Jimenez who repeatedly drove into danger to transport people away from the carnage.
In his remarks to law enforcement officials,
President Trump asked God to bless the men and women who protect us, and “bring healing to the families of the wounded, the injured and the fallen.”He also said, “In the depths of horror, we will always find hope in the men and women who risk their lives for ours:”
“We cannot be defined by the evil that threatens us, or the violence that incites such terror. We’re defined by our love, our caring and our courage. In the darkest moments, what shines most brightly is the goodness that thrives in the hearts of our people.”
“We are blessed to be surrounded with heroes,” President Trump said:
“As one eyewitness recounted this week: ‘While everyone else was crouching, police officers were standing up as targets, just trying to direct people and tell them where to go’…Parents and spouses used their own bodies as shields to protect their loved ones. Americans dashed into a hail of bullets to rescue total strangers.”
“In the months ahead,” President Trump said, “we will all have to struggle with the horror of what has unfolded…but we will struggle through it together. We will endure the pain together, and we will overcome together as Americans.”
