Phoenix Lost Lake organizers working with police after Las Vegas shooting
Oct 2, 2017, 3:47 PM | Updated: 6:02 pm
(AP Photo/John Locher)
PHOENIX — Organizers of an outdoor music festival in Phoenix set to begin later this month said they were working closely with police after a gunman opened fire at a similar event in Las Vegas.
Superfly, the company behind this month’s first-ever Lost Lake Festival, said the safety of its patrons, staff, volunteers and artists is a big priority.
“We will continue to work closely with Phoenix law enforcement officials to assess our safest and security protocols to ensure we host the safest event possible,” the company said in a brief statement.
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, in an interview with KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Mac & Gaydos, said first responders in Arizona are prepared to respond to mass tragedies.
Law enforcement has been “challenged to think differently,” he said, adding that the “lone-wolf scenario” is the worst-case scenario because there is “no way to prepare 100 percent” for it.
But, Ducey said, Arizona law enforcement is well-prepared for dealing with large-scale sporting events, like the Arizona Diamondbacks Wild Card game on Wednesday.
At least 58 people were killed, including the gunman, and more than 500 were injured at the Route 91 Harvest Festival near the Las Vegas Strip on Sunday night.
It was the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history.
The suspect has been identified as Stephen Paddock, 64, of Mesquite, Nevada. He had opened fire on 22,000 concertgoers from a room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino.
The Lost Lake Festival was scheduled to run Oct. 20-22 at Steele Indian School Park, located near Indian School Road and Central Avenue.
It will feature more than 40 music acts — headliners include Chance the Rapper and Major Lazer — on multiple stages, local food and drink, various artists and interactive games.
Superfly created Tennessee’s famed Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival and the Outside Lands Music Festival in San Francisco.