A 21-year-old Victoria man celebrating his birthday was among the hundreds of people injured in Sunday night’s mass shooting in Las Vegas.
Sheldon Mack, the son of former Victoria news anchor Hudson Mack, was celebrating his 21st birthday at a Las Vegas festival when a gunman rained down bullets on the unsuspecting crowd from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel.
“Prognosis is good”
According to his tweets on Monday afternoon, Sheldon suffered two gunshot wounds resulting in a ruptured colon and a broken forearm.
So much evil in this world, thanking god for watching over me. Sustained 2 gunshot wounds, a ruptured colon, and a broken forearm.
— Sheldon Mack (@SMack_era) October 2, 2017
He was rushed into emergency surgery, but according to a Facebook post from his father, Hudson Mack, he is now doing well.
“[Sheldon] is doing well after his emergency surgery overnight. We were relieved to see this sight of him when we walked into the ICU, and when we saw his tweets after we landed. He was hit twice, in the forearm and abdomen. The prognosis is good. Sheldon is strong. He may be ready to tell his story soon. But for now he needs to rest and recover. And as we pull together as a family and thank God he’s going to be okay, our hearts break for the families of the people who were killed and the many others who were wounded. Please keep them in your hearts.”
“He helped others last night while the shooting was happening…and someone saved his life, dragging him to safety and getting him into an ambulance,” writes Mack, “Whoever you are, thank you.”
Thankful for those who helped me and prayers out those I couldn't help
— Sheldon Mack (@SMack_era) October 2, 2017
At least 59 people were killed in the attack – two of the victims were Canadian – and 527 others were injured at the open-air festival.
Two Canadians Among Dead
23-year-old Maple Ridge resident Jordan McIldoon, and 28-year-old Alberta woman Jessica Klymchuk were the two Canadians who lost their lives in the tragic and senseless attack.
The shooter, 64-year-old Stephen Paddock, is being described as a “lone wolf attacker”, and was found dead in his hotel room surrounded by up to 10 guns.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have already been a total of 273 mass shooting incidents in the US so far this year. In 2016, there were 483 such occurrences.
To quote B.C. Premier, John Horgan, “The senseless acts of violence in Las Vegas are horrifying and incomprehensible. Our hearts are with all those affected by last night’s shooting. To Jordan’s family, and the family and friends of all those who have lost their lives, we offer our condolences and support.”
Friends and relatives of Canadian citizens known to be in the area can contact Global Affairs Canada’s 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre by calling 613-996-8885 or 1-800-387-3124, or by sending an email to sos@international.gc.ca.
