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.”
Unsurprisingly, frontman Brandon Flowers had more to say about the atrocity, and in a heartfelt statement, he recounted his flight back home from Australia this past Sunday. Flowers addressed the Route 91 Harvest tragedy in a moving post 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 his full, very moving statement below.