FARMINGTON, Minn. — One Farmington man is in critical condition and another is dead after being identified as victims in a mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada Sunday night, that left 59 dead and more than 520 people injured.
Friends and family of Philip Aurich, 36, a father of two and graduate of Concordia Academy, have been providing updates on his condition on social media.
Just hours before the shooting, Aurich, a Minnesota native who currently lives in Las Vegas posted a picture of him and his girlfriend and video of the concert earlier that day.
“Tonight is one of those nights you won’t soon forget,” Aurich captioned on his Facebook post.
Aurich and his girlfriend attended the Jason Aldean concert, which was part of a large country music festival on the Las Vegas strip, when Stephen Paddock, 64, shot down on the concert-going mass from his hotel room on the 32nd floor, hitting Aurich several times.
Aurich’s girlfriend was not hit family confirmed on Facebook.
According to several Facebook posts by family members, doctors operating on Aurich had to remove his spleen, part of his colon, and took care of his ruptured diaphragm.
Aurich went through a second surgery Monday afternoon to finish repairs. A Facebook post from the family notes doctors are optimistic and plan to wake him up on Tuesday.
One Minnesotan was still missing according to the Star Tribune, with the family of Steve Berger wondering if he is among the dead or wounded. However, St. Louis Park Patch confirmed Tuesday afternoon that Berger had been among the 59 dead.
Gov. Mark Dayton called on Minnesotans to pray for Aurich in a statement Monday.
“The terrible attack in Las Vegas has shocked and horrified the conscience of every American,” Dayton said in a statement. “I urge all Minnesotans and all Americans to call upon our own best natures, put aside our differences, and work for an end to this insane violence. I also ask for special prayers for the recovery of Minnesotan [Phillip] Aurich, who was critically wounded in the attack. His family’s Facebook post asks everyone to ‘keep Phil, his children Reagan and Ryder, and his parents Mike and Mindy in their prayers.”
The shooting in Las Vegas will impact event security moving forward. Minnesota is set to host the 2018 Super Bowl in Downtown Minneapolis.
The Super Bowl attracts fans and celebrities to host cities every year. According to San Francisco Bay Area Super Bowl Committee, more than 1 million people attended Super Bowl week.
According to KARE, who sat down with security consultant Michael Rozin, security measures will probably change as a result of the Las Vegas shooting, but notes no plan is 100 percent.
However, local law enforcement will receive additional help, according to the Pioneer Press, which reports the national office will bring in its own security team and Homeland Security will send federal agencies to handle coordination during the weeklong event.
The Star Tribune reports a candlelight vigil for the victims of the shooting will be held on Wednesday at Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis at 7:30 p.m.
Preya Samsundar
Preya Samsundar was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN. She graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities this Spring with a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology, with a minor in Strategic Communications. Preya has previously worked on several State Campaign Races.
