Out-of-town visitors reflect on Las Vegas shooting

Las Vegas visitors talk about the Strip shooting and how it will impact their view of Las Vegas:

Micah Klinger, Kansas City, Missouri

Micah Klinger, 31, was visiting Las Vegas from Kansas City, Missouri. It was his third time in Las Vegas.

Klinger came to spend time with his oldest brother and dabble in gambling. They arrived Friday and stayed through Monday.

“I was hoping to have many memories created in Vegas. I just learned to play craps so I was hoping to do well with that,” Klinger said.

“I was gambling at the casino (the Venetian) when we heard there was a shooting up the Strip. As we heard more and more news we saw them lock down the hotel and not let people in and out. I was able to peek out the front doors and saw what seemed like a million police lights,” he said.

”Will I come back? I really don’t think so. I loved Vegas but I don’t do well with traumatic events because of my personal history. I used to go to concerts and sporting events all the time. But, with how these events have been playing out in the world, I avoid huge crowds and what I could see as easy targets.

“I know many others had a worse experience than I did,” he added. “My brother and I waited in line to donate blood the next day but unfortunately couldn’t get in before we had to leave for our flight. I pray for those that went through the worst of it. It is incredibly sad and I hope the city can heal as soon as possible.”

Adrienne Adame-Mondragon, Ingleside, Texas

Adrienne Adame-Mondragon, 29, just survived Tropical Storm Harvey in Ingleside, Texas.

She and her husband came to Las Vegas last Wednesday to celebrate their 12th anniversary and to celebrate the wedding of one of their friends.

It was her first time in Las Vegas, and her first time out of Texas. She wanted to “have the honeymoon we were never able to take,” she said.

“I wanted to see the lights,” Adame-Mondragon said. “I remember before we took off my husband asking what I wanted to do and I just said see everything and anything. I wanted to walk and see all there was.”

In the days before the shooting, Adame-Mondragon and her husband visited Fremont Street, watched football “on the biggest screen I have ever seen,” went to concerts, walked the Strip and “tried to take in the whole experience.”

Sunday night she was shopping with a friend at Circus Circus when “people were running from every direction saying there was a shooter.”

She said she felt overwhelmed. Police officers were racing to the Strip.

“I don’t know after what happened if I will ever return,” she said. “I had to see my whole town ripped apart by a storm and then my vacation destroyed by one man.”

She will never forget the sound of the bullets “popping.”

“We kept saying our last night needed to go out with a bang, but never in my wildest dreams thought it would be like this.”

Charles Patrick Jr., Banning, California

Charles Patrick Jr., 21, didn’t expect to come to Las Vegas.

“It was a last minute thing. I woke up and my cousin said, ‘You ever gone to Vegas?’ Told him no and he said, ‘Alright, let’s go.’ Next thing I know I’m in his car on my way to Vegas.”

Patrick and his cousin drove from Banning, California.

“The ride here I couldn’t wait to see the buildings,” he said. “I was hoping to just have a good time, explore, walk around.”

And he did.

“It was a really good time,” he said, adding that he went bowling, watched Mystère and gambled.

He said he was walking the Strip when the shooting happened. “I heard it, but I didn’t pay no mind.”

Then he answered a call from his cousin, telling him about what was happening. He turned around to walk back toward his hotel, TI. Police were driving back and forth, Caesars Palace was being evacuated.

“Just made me wonder. Could have been me if I kept walking. Could have been my cousin,” Patrick said. “Don’t know what would push someone to do what that man did…I do pray for Vegas and condolences to everyone that lost someone that night.”

The shooting won’t keep Patrick from Las Vegas, he said, and the shooting didn’t change how he views Las Vegas.

“The message I’m going to take with me is: don’t hesitate to travel or go to a concert. Generally enjoy yourself, the people you’re around, the people you love, because life is short and nothing’s guaranteed. Anything can happen.”

LaShana Douville, Fort Walton Beach, Florida

LaShana Douville, 39, was in Las Vegas for a wedding industry convention, called Wedding MBA.

She owns “The Event Room” in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

It was her first time here.

“My original plan was to come to Vegas in January for my 40th birthday, but I saw this trip as a way to get business and fun all wrapped in one,” she said.

Douville was on the plane arriving into Las Vegas when the shooting took place.

“Our plane had to turn around and stay in the air extra time until we were released for landing.” she said. “When we arrived to our hotel that night we did witness concert-goers who were startled.”

She noticed a shirtless man, who she assumed had taken it off to help somebody who was bleeding. “The lady he was with had blood on her legs. Clearly they were helping.”

Since then, she has opted not to travel too far from her hotel.

“I will visit again because this could have happened anywhere,” she said.

Douville spent Tuesday night at an event to help victims.

“I can’t think of anything better to be apart of while I’m here.”

Janene and Paul Paulidor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Janene and Paul Paulidor came to Las Vegas to celebrate their 31st anniversary.

“It was hard to celebrate knowing that people lost their lives and such a tragic event occurred,” Janene said.

The Paulidors said they were impressed with how Las Vegas responded to the tragedy.

“Law enforcement was remarkable. The first responders knew exactly what to do,” Janene said. “Knowing that everyone pulled together in Sin City is remarkable.”

Leonardo Arce, Ocala, Florida

Leonardo Arce visited Las Vegas Monday through Wednesday from Ocala, Florida, for a trade show.

“The shooting could have happened anywhere,” he said.

He said he was glad to see a large law enforcement presence, which he said “makes me feel safe.”

Las Vegas is “still a party town,” he said, and the shooting won’t keep him from returning to Las Vegas.

Contact Nicole Raz at nraz@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4512. Follow @JournalistNikki on Twitter.