Written By: Justin Nelson

Staff Reporter

Two years ago on October 1, 2017, more than 22,000 people were enjoying the Route 91 Harvest Festival. High above them, from a hotel room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel, shots were fired into the crowd killing 58 people and wounding hundreds more. 

Mandalay Bay Hotel is owned by MGM Resorts International and on October 3rd, 2019, they reached a settlement deal that could award up to $800 million to the victims and their families. 

“Our goal has always been to resolve these matters so our community and the victims and their families can move forward in the healing process,“ said Jim Murren, Chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts. 

Right now there are approximately 4,400 plaintiffs in the lawsuit and settlement payouts could take as long as one year. 

MGM Resorts is also planning to turn a portion of the property where the shooting occurred into a community and athletic center.  

“It was important to us that the long-term use of the property include the community in some way. We also plan to create a space on the property to remember the victims of the tragedy,” MGM’s statement said. 

While the October 1 shooting was the deadliest in modern U.S. history and a horrific tragedy, it brought about a sense of community that Las Vegans hadn’t had before.