Young Woman From Maryland Injured In Deadly Las Vegas Shooting
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- As Marylanders arrive home from the chaos in Las Vegas, one Anne Arundel County woman remains in a Nevada hospital in a coma after being shot in the head, as shots rang out Sunday night at the Route 91 Harvest Festival.
Thousands of country music fans were enjoying a Jason Aldean concert, when a gunman opened fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Anne Arundel County Public Schools' Bob Mosier confirms 2008 Arundel High School alumna Tina Frost was injured in the shooting.
Frost was shot in the head, with a bullet striking her in the right eye.
On her GoFundMe page, Tina's mother Mary Watson Moreland says "Tina is out of surgery and her vitals are stable. They removed her right eye, where the bullet was lodged, and there is an implant there now to keep the space open. She has sight in her left eye but will never see from the right again."
"They took out a bone from her forehead to allow the brain room to swell, that will stay out for a few months. She's in a coma and on a ventilator, she cannot breathe on her own. She's critically stable in ICU for at least a week. Over the next few days, they're going to see how she responds to simulation, but until then, we won't know how bad the brain damage is."
Frost's family is now raising money with a GoFundMe page to help cover Tina's medical bills and travel expenses to care for her.
Preston Barnes, who is from Baltimore, was staying at a nearby Vegas hotel, and described the chaos that unfolded over the phone:
"Helicopters, policemen running through the street with guns, people running trying to take cover, people just trying to help people basically, and people running through the hotel. It was just crazy you don't know which way to run, which way to look, all you hear is shooting and yelling," he said.
WJZ met up with Barnes when he landed back in Baltimore at BWI.
"It's a real scary moment. I don't care how tough you might think you is, but to see bullets flying like that, you're running for cover. I'm so glad we're back at home here in Baltimore," he said.
He says getting to the airport was difficult, because of the increased police presence.
WJZ spoke to a number of people at BWI who were in Las Vegas at the time of the shooting, and they are still trying to come to grips with what happened.
Maryland woman Angela Strong, recalls hearing the gunfire followed by the chaos that ensued immediately after.
You could just see people running it was just crazy people were trying to get back. Police were everywhere shutting down the roads you could hear it, you could hear people screaming," she says.
Her hotel was on lockdown all night causing her to miss her flight. She recalls a vibe in Vegas the likes few would ever associate with the city.
"It was just eerie, people were still in our hotel walking around in blankets, sheets, and your heart hurt," says Strong.
Jim Anschutz flew into BWI from Las Vegas earlier on Monday.
"What's happening to America? I don't know," he says.
"I did two tours in Iraq, I've seen a lot. For that to happen here, it brought a flashback to me especially when I seen and heard the videos and the gunfire," says Andre Webb.
Cassie Sandou is a performance artist in Las Vegas.
"I do have friends who have either had their friends, or nieces and nephews who have been shot, and right now they're asking for prayers," she says.
For her, the almost five-hour flight home was filled with thoughts of those friends.
I'm possibly looking at victims listed and things like that," she says.
[Mike Hellgren: You're here but your heart is in Las Vegas.]
"It's absolutely in Las Vegas," says Sandou.
Many have questions about the gunman's motives like why and how could this happen? And they hope America can heal.
"Feeling sorry for the families. I'm hoping everybody will be okay. It's a sad time," says Addison Matthews.
"Innocent people getting killed like that. It's a blessing to be back home," says Barnes.
Maryland's governor Larry Hogan has praised the bravery and courageousness of those first responders.
Baltimore Olympian Michael Phelps was at the music festival earlier in the weekend with his wife. They posted they were safe back home at the time of the shooting.
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