Las Vegas Pauses for 9th Anniversary of 1 October Tragedy; Community Unites at Healing Garden

LAS VEGAS, NV — Nine years after the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history, Southern Nevada paused on Thursday morning to honor the victims, survivors, and heroic first responders of the 1 October tragedy.

The annual remembrance ceremony—convened on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at the Las Vegas Community Healing Garden in the downtown gateway district—brought together hundreds of community members, Clark County Commissioners, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department leadership, and families who traveled from across North America to honor the 58 angels taken at the Route 91 Harvest festival, as well as those who subsequently passed away from injuries.

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|          1 OCTOBER REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY DOSSIER        |
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|  - Event Milestone: 9th Anniversary of 1 October 2017  |
|  - Gathering Venue: Las Vegas Community Healing Garden |
|    (1015 S. Casino Center Blvd, Downtown Las Vegas)    |
|  - Convening Date: Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 7:05 AM    |
|  - Key Participants: Clark County Commissioners, Mayor |
|    Shelley Berkley, Sheriff Kevin McMahill, CCFD, UMC  |
|  - Core Ceremonial Elements: Reading of Victims' Names,|
|    Tolling of Remembrance Bell, Moment of Silence,     |
|    Annual Rose Presentation along Memorial Wall        |
|  - Permanent Memorial Status: Clark County 1 October   |
|    Memorial Committee Advancing Construction Timelines |
|  - Site Footprint: South Las Vegas Blvd at Reno Ave    |
|  - Community Pillar: #VegasStrong Resiliency Center    |
|    Continuing Trauma Counseling & Long-Term Services   |
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Downtown Tribute at the Healing Garden

Beginning at 7:05 a.m., attendees gathered around the garden’s iconic Remembrance Wall and the shaded labyrinth of 58 California pepper trees—planted in October 2017 just days after the shooting by community volunteers.

Civic leaders took turns reading aloud the names of each victim, with a ceremonial bell tolling after every tribute.

First responders from Metro, the Clark County Fire Department, and trauma surgeons from University Medical Center (UMC) placed wreaths and individual roses at the base of the community wall.

“Nine years ago, our community faced unimaginable darkness, but out of that heartbreak came a unity and strength that defined who we are,” Clark County Commission leaders stated during the morning address. “Vegas Strong was not a slogan for one night; it remains a permanent promise to honor those we lost, support the wounded, and walk beside their families forever.”

Progress Toward the Permanent Strip Memorial

Thursday’s ceremony also spotlighted major strides toward the permanent 1 October Memorial, situated on two acres along the east side of South Las Vegas Boulevard near Reno Avenue, directly adjacent to the historic concert grounds.

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|             PERMANENT STRIP MEMORIAL MILESTONES        |
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|  - Selected Concept: "Forever One" Memorial Design     |
|  - Architectural Features: 58-Foot Tall Light Tower,   |
|    Glass Canopy, Ribbon of Remembrance & Sound Wall    |
|  - Committee Leadership: 1 October Memorial Committee  |
|    Operating Under Clark County Department of Parks    |
|  - Groundbreaking Target: Transitioning from Final     |
|    Engineering Phase to Site Groundwork Preparations   |
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The county-appointed committee, which guided a multi-year public design selection process that gathered thousands of survey submissions from survivors and relatives, confirmed that final civil engineering drawings and pre-construction fundraising initiatives are actively moving forward.

The planned memorial, titled “Forever One,” will feature an undulating steel-and-glass canopy, an elevated 58-foot monument radiating a beam of light upward, and an interactive open-air gallery recounting personal stories of selflessness and bravery.

Across the valley on Thursday night, marquee signs along the Las Vegas Strip, downtown Fremont Street, and Allegiant Stadium will dim their lights or display the #VegasStrong tribute ribbon in unified solidarity.

Source: Clark County Board of Commissioners Public Records, City of Las Vegas Cultural Affairs, Las Vegas Review-Journal Editorial Desk, 1 October Memorial Committee Progress Disclosures.