A couple says they survived the Las Vegas concert shooting by hiding under a nearby tractor trailer after gunfire broke out.
It happened on Sunday, October 1st at approximately 10:10 p.m. at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada.
According to WFSB, Joe and Valeria Yankus were attending the country music festival for their 29th wedding anniversary when they heard the first gunshots.
The shooting was carried out by 64-year-old Stephen Paddock, who opened fire at concert-goers from his suite on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel. He committed suicide after wounding nearly 500 people, and killing more than 50.
“It was rapid fire, like [you] expect at a concert when they set off the fireworks. They’re in concession like that,” said Joe of the initial noise.
The two then tried to flee the scene but came to a dead end.
“We went out the back figuring that was the safe harbor for shelter and cover and [it] turns out, once we got into the back, there was no way out,” Joe continued.
That’s when the couple saw the parked semi truck.
“We got behind the tires. I shoved my wife down and was able to cover her with something but rapid fire wasn’t stopping,” Joe explained.
“[A] couple seconds later, it would start again. Now, this is 10 minutes into it,” he continued
The couple, who write a country music blog, have attended the Harvest Festival before and were shocked when such violence erupted.
“It was just a friendly affair. That’s why everyone gets together,” Valeria said.
“You pass by people and you’re looking in disbelief, you don’t know what to do to help them,” she continued.
Luckily, the pair escaped the event with only a few scrapes and bruises.
“When we get home at the airport [in Connecticut] our kids want to pick us up and it’ll hit home then,” Joe said.
The motives behind the shooting are still unclear.