The Killers Frontman Brandon Flowers Shares Heartfelt Tribute to Las Vegas Shooting Victims

On Sunday, Oct. 1, Las Vegas endured the deadliest shooting in U.S. history. Stephen Paddock opened fire on the Route 91 Harvest Festival from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, taking the lives of over 50 people and injuring hundreds more.

The city famed for its Blackjack and neon lights is also considered home to The Killers, who have always taken pride in the city from which they hail. Following the shooting, the band, who recently released a new album, Wonderful Wonderful, tweeted a brief message of solidarity:

We’ve got heavy hearts. We love you, Las Vegas.

— The Killers (@thekillers) October 2, 2017

Unsurprisingly, frontman Brandon Flowers had more to say about the atrocity, and in a heartfelt statement, he recounted his flight over the city that night when he thought about how much history he had with his hometown. He continued by writing about what concerts mean to him and finished by honoring those affected by the shooting:

“My heart swells when I hear the stories of people putting their lives on the line to help each other—defying the stereotypes of what people say Las Vegas is all about. We’re all long lost brothers and sisters. I miss my town, I miss my mom, I miss these victims I didn’t even know, but I look forward to getting together with you real soon to keep their memory alive.”

Read Flowers’ entire statement below.

I’m a Vegas boy. I always have been and—even though I just moved my wife and kids to Utah—I always will be. This past Sunday on a flight home from Australia, I flew over my hometown. Forehead to the window I looked down on Las Vegas and felt a prick of nostalgia. I thought about my mother buried below, I thought about my friends in Henderson, and I even traced Flamingo road down to where it meets the 95 and pin pointed my high school, Chaparral. I could see the city as a whole, but I couldn’t look close enough to see what was about to unfold. It’s hard to believe it’s real. My prayers go out to those whose lives were taken and to everyone else affected by this nightmare. I’m devastated for my community and for all of the people who gather together to see live music. Some of the happiest moments of my life have happened at concerts. They are a rite of passage, a holy communion, or just the kind of escape from the stress and the grind of daily life that so many people need. My heart swells when I hear the stories of people putting their lives on the line to help each other—defying the stereotypes of what people say Las Vegas is all about. We’re all long lost brothers and sisters. I miss my town, I miss my mom, I miss these victims I didn’t even know, but I look forward to getting together with you real soon to keep their memory alive. —Brandon