Minnesota radio DJ recounts experience at Las Vegas shooting

(KMSP) - Jason Aldean has a lot of fans, and Katie Toupal from Minnesota's Buzz'n 102 Country music radio station had the chance to meet the star last night, which she considered a dream come true.

But about five songs into the concert, Katie knew something was going very wrong.

“I thought it was somebody setting off fireworks at first, and then I realized - when he dropped his guitar and everything went black - what was actually happening,” she said. 

Toupal and her friend took off running. She remembers the smell of gunpowder, but also people tripping, falling, shot and bleeding.

“I remember the girl laying on the ground that was shot in the stomach. I'll forever remember her face; that was the one I'll remember the most,” she said. 

While looking for a place to hide, the pair ended up being taken in by total strangers.

“This couple let us and 30 other people just sit in their room… it was dark and quiet and we all just took turns charging our phone,” she said.

They stayed in that room for hours, wondering if every bump or thud was another gunshot, wondering if they were going to make it out alive, and worrying about their loved ones.

“Who's gonna take care of my mom? Because she is sick so, she doesn't have anybody…who's gonna take care of her,” she said.

Toupal said her friend who had to throw away her shoes she wore last because they had blood on them.