Country star John Rich of the group Big & Rich performed at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas before it was attacked by gunman Stephen Paddock. Paddock killed at least 59 people and wounded over 500 more. After the show, Rich went to his bar, Redneck Riveria, when the attack started.
Not knowing what was going on, Rich said that he was approached by an off-duty police officer at the bar, and loaned him his concealed weapon to protect the building. The officer then stood by the door, armed, until the coast was clear.
From Fox:
The country star was hanging out at the Redneck Riveria bar, which he owns, after his performance when the crowd at the festival was barraged with bullets.
The gun owner gave his weapon to an off-duty police officer.
Rich told Fox News on Monday, "I had a Minneapolis police officer off-duty hanging out. He came up to me and he showed me his badge and he says, 'I'm officer... and I am not armed for the first time ever I can't believe it. Are you armed? I said, 'Yes sir, I am armed.' I have my concealed weapons permit and I said, 'Yes, I am armed.' He said, 'Can I have your firearm so I can hold point on this front door?'
Rich desribed the scene at his bar.
"So, I handed over my firearm to him and everybody got behind him for about two hours without flinching this guy kept a point on that front door just in case somebody came through," Rich recalled.
Thankfully, the attack was limited to just the Mandalay Bay Resort area, but what an incredible spur-of-the-moment act of bravery by that officer.