Atlanta shooting witnesses grapple with fear, shock

ATLANTA - Many families visiting Las Vegas, Nevada are heartbroken after witnessing the horror following the shooting rampage at a concert.

The incident happened during a music festival at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Authorities said nearly 60 people are dead and hundreds suffered injuries in what is now the deadliest shooting in modern U.S. History.

People returning from the area to Atlanta spoke with FOX 5's Marissa Mitchell Monday at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. They said they were eating at restaurants and walking on the Las Vegas Strip when the attack unfolded.

"It was like somebody set off a whole bunch of fireworks and it just kept going and going and going," John Huffman said.

Huffman told Mitchell he stayed at a hotel near the scene. He also said he could see first responders rushing to the area following the gunfire.

Austin Mitchell planned to go to the Route 91 Harvest Festival, but instead chose to make a dinner reservation. He said he and his friends heard the shots.

"We heard all the ruckus and all the people panicking. It was frightening and really scary," Mitchell added.

Now that the chaos is over and the grief is settling in, many people are left to deal with realities of the tragedy. Cynthia Gonzales said she was in Vegas celebrating a friend's 50th birthday. Although she is heartbroken over the situation, she refuses to allow the incident to make her fearful of going out and having a good time.

"It will not deter me from having to enjoy my life or let people who want to do violence dictate how I do my life..." Cynthia told Mitchell. "I will continue to pray for us as people and as a nation."