A Hewitt couple on vacation in Las Vegas spent the night at a casino on lockdown on Sunday night, as a massacre unfolded two blocks away at a concert near the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.
Rob Crubaugh and his wife Brandi went to Las Vegas to celebrate Rob’s 36th birthday. When they walked north on the strip toward the Bellagio Resort and Casino after 10 p.m., they noticed something was not right.
"I immediately turn to my wife and said 'that's a machine gun,' which we didn't panic or anything because we were down in that area and there is a place that has a gun range type of deal. We didn't think much of it,” Crubaugh said.
He added he also noticed up to 30 police cars driving south on the strip.
Crubaugh said they went to a couple of casinos and ended at the Bellagio. However, once they decided to go back to MGM, where they were staying, they noticed people running.
"Out of nowhere, the whole casino, just hit a panic and everybody in that place, took off running and started ducking for cover, getting behind slot machines and tables, you name it. Everybody was in full panic mode,” Crubaugh said.
The casino at the Bellagio, like others on the strip went on lockdown, according to Crubaugh. He said visitors who spent the night in the employee area of that casino had two moments of panic as false rumors of two shooters were circulating in that room.
Crubaugh described some of those staying there made makeshift beds while others checked their phones for constant updates.
"Every time any little noise happened, everybody was popping up and on alert, kind of ready to run,” Crubaugh said.
Crubaugh and his wife were able to return to their hotel early Monday morning.
"You come out here thinking, ready to have a good time and have vacation and all the sudden, you are in a situation where you have the fear of being gunned down and not seeing your family again or being to be able to be there for your kids," Crubaugh said.
They are still in disbelief about a massacre taking place in Las Vegas.
On Monday night, 59 victims were dead and 527 injured.
"Seeing how many people lost their lives and how many people were injured. It's completely unbelievable,” Crubaugh said.
The couple was considering cutting their trip short because of what happened. However, they decided to stay until Wednesday as originally planned.
"We are going to try to enjoy ourselves but at the same time, it's going to be at the back of our minds and keep us on edge,” Crubaugh said.
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