Nearly seven years have passed since the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting, yet for Breana Koch, Denise Stout, and Sharlee Rogers, the event still casts a long shadow over their lives. As the anniversary of the October 1, 2017, tragedy approaches, the three survivors reflect on that night, how they’ve coped since, and the community bonds they’ve formed in the aftermath.
Breana was just 15 when she attended the festival with her mother, Denise, and their friends and extended family, excited to see Jason Aldean perform. “We were just standing there, waiting for Jason,” Breana recalled. “When the shooting started, it didn’t feel real. At first, I thought it was fireworks or the speakers malfunctioning.” Denise agreed, remembering the confusion in the crowd. “People around us started running, but we didn’t really understand what was happening. It was all so surreal. You don’t expect something like that to happen.”
The reality of the situation set in quickly, thanks to the presence of Denise’s former sister-in-law, who was with them that night along with several off-duty Henderson police officers. “They were with us, enjoying the concert one moment, and the next, they were in full cop mode,” Denise said. “They didn’t panic. They just started moving us out of the open and toward safer areas. I still credit them every day for getting us out of there safely. I don’t know what we would have done otherwise.”
The quick thinking of the officers who were with them made all the difference. As shots continued to ring out, the group was ushered away from the open field, taking shelter behind food trucks and along buildings. When the gunfire paused, they moved swiftly toward exits, always trying to stay covered. “It was like they instinctively knew what to do,” Denise added. “I was in shock, just focused on keeping Breana safe.” Breana added, “They just surrounded us and moved us quickly without any panic. It honestly kept it from feeling real.”
Concerned for a family member who had been working in the medical tent that night, they made the difficult decision to head in that direction, not fully grasping the severity of the situation. “We were looking for my sister-in-law’s son, wanting to make sure he was okay,” Denise recalled. “But walking into that tent was a moment I’ll never forget.” What they found inside was a scene of devastation—wounded concertgoers, blood-streaked floors, and a level of panic and sorrow that made the reality of the tragedy undeniable. “It felt like walking into a war zone,” Denise said. “That image is burned into my memory, and I think it’s what haunts me the most.” For Breana, it was equally overwhelming. That moment in the medic tent solidified just how tragic the night had become, and it’s a memory that continues to shape their healing process.
For Sharlee, the night unfolded differently. She had been planning to leave the concert when her niece begged her to stay for one more song. “She was only 23 at the time, and she really wanted to hear her favorite song,” Sharlee said. “So I stayed, and the shots started right at the end of that song. If I had left when I planned, I would have been in the middle of the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard.”
Sharlee described how she initially thought the sound of gunfire was fireworks, but the gravity of the situation quickly became apparent. Her first thought was to protect her niece. “I tried to hide her, but she was the one who took charge. She pulled me out of there,” Sharlee said. “I had two 16-year-old nieces down near the stage, and we were all trying to make sure everyone was safe.”
Though none of them were physically injured, the emotional scars remain. The impact of that night still shapes their everyday lives in ways big and small. “I can’t be in crowds without looking for the exits,” Breana admitted. “It’s automatic now. I’m constantly aware of where I could go if something happened.” Denise shared that sentiment, adding, “I always check for where the officers are stationed at events. I make mental notes of the closest exits, and it’s become a habit. I don’t even say it out loud anymore; I just do it.”
Sharlee also deals with lingering physical effects. She sustained a foot injury while running that night, which continues to cause her pain. “I was wearing ballet flats, and I ran so much that I injured my foot,” she said. “To this day, I have to wear a brace if I’m going to be on my feet for long periods, and I get injections to manage the pain.”
Beyond the physical and emotional aftermath, the women have found solace in the support of others who were at the festival. “I didn’t know a lot of the people we’re now close to before the shooting,” Denise said. “But afterward, it felt like we formed a second family. Social media has been huge for keeping us connected. Every year, around this time, people start checking in with each other, even if we haven’t spoken in a while. It’s comforting to know we’re all still here for each other.”
The annual memorial events, including a walk and a visit to the Las Vegas Healing Garden, have become important rituals for many survivors. “It’s a space where we can all come together and remember,” Denise said. “The healing garden is beautiful, and there’s always this feeling of unity when we gather.”
In the years since the tragedy, Breana, Denise, and Sharlee have all found different ways to cope. For Denise, one symbol of her journey was a smartwatch she lost during the chaos of that night. “We went to an event afterward where the Red Cross was helping people recover lost belongings. I didn’t think much of it when I mentioned my watch, but they asked where I’d been standing and the route we took to get out. I couldn’t believe it when they actually found it,” she said. “It was broken, but I carried it with me for years. It became a reminder of resilience, of how people will search for you even in the worst of circumstances.”
Eventually, Denise decided to let go of the watch. “I kept it for the first three years. It was like a symbol of strength,” she explained. “But one day I realized I didn’t need it anymore. I was okay without it. Throwing it away felt like a step in the healing process.”
All three women have also memorialized the event through tattoos. They all have designs that remind them of their survival, while also symbolizing the night that changed their lives. “It’s permanent, just like our experience,” Sharlee said. “The tattoo is a part of my story now, something I carry with me.”
When asked about their hopes for the future, all three women expressed a desire for continued healing, not just for themselves but for the broader community affected by the event. “I hope that as a group, we stay connected,” Denise said. “We’ve become this little family, and I want us to continue being there for each other.”
In the years following the tragedy, Denise found a sense of connection and support through people she met through the Facebook support group, like Julie Craig, a vendor at the Route 91 festival who also endured great loss. “Julie lost everything that night,” Denise explained, recalling how Julie’s small business, Countryfied, was devastated by the shooting, as she didn’t have insurance to cover her losses. Despite that, Julie pushed forward, creating Route 91 merchandise in the years that followed and donating the proceeds to survivor support groups like LOVEWINS and the families of the 58 victims. “I’ve purchased several items from Julie over the years,” Denise said. “It’s her way of giving back to the community and keeping the memory of those who were lost alive.” While Julie doesn’t have any Route 91 merchandise currently available on her website, she plans to create new designs for the upcoming 10-year reunion, another way to honor the shared journey of resilience.
All the ladies, who have had some form of therapy since the event emphasized the importance of mental health care. “So much of this comes down to mental health. There are people out there who need help but don’t know how to get it,” they said. “We wish access to care was easier. It’s not just about the guns; it’s about the people who need support.”
As the anniversary of the Route 91 tragedy approaches, Breana, Denise, and Sharlee know the emotions will resurface, but they are determined to keep moving forward. “It’s not something you ever forget,” Denise said. “It’s something people shouldn’t forget,” Sharlee added. “But we’ve learned how to live with it, and we’ve found strength we didn’t know we had,” Breana shared with a sad smile.
One message they all want to share with others who may be struggling, whether from this event or something similar, is that no one has to face it alone. “It’s so important to know there are people who understand what you’re going through,” Breana said. “You’re never alone, even when it feels like it. There’s a community of support waiting to help.”
