Tombstone 'tribute' display of Vegas shooting victims draws mixed emotions
Postmedia Network
First posted: Thursday, October 19, 2017 11:35 AM EDT | Updated: Thursday, October 19, 2017 11:40 AM EDT
A Nevada homeowner removed a divisive Halloween display this week after it drew mixed reactions for referencing the Las Vegas massacre.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, an unnamed homeowner in North Las Vegas set up a mock cemetery in his front yard with 58 tombstones – the exact number of people gunned down by Stephen Paddock during the Route 91 Harvest festival on Oct. 1.
A picture of the display spread on social media Tuesday night.
"He is devastated that anyone took his tribute to be anything but positive and reverent to the victims," Stephen Stubbs, a lawyer representing the homeowner told KTNV. "The message was supposed to be rest in peace. Vegas Strong."
It didn't matter that #vegasstrong was printed in big bold white letters behind the display.
“He could of (sic) just left the 58 flags as a memorial with the sign that would be ok,” chimed one Facebook user.
“That's just hurtful and wrong. Some people need to think things through better,” another wrote.
The tombstone display has drawn mixed emotion from those living in the neighbourhood.
Neighbour Guy Becnel said he thought the tombstones were a tribute to the victims of the shooting.
“I drive past this every day and when they first put it up, it touched my heart,” Becnel told the Review-Journal.
Another neighbour, Alina Tril, said she was unsettled by the display.
“I drove in here and it caught my eye and I just kept staring at it,” Tril said. “I just parked my car and just tried to understand what their intentions were.”
A Halloween display at a North Las Vegas, Nev. Home depicted 58 tombstones – one for each of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting victims. (Twitter/bizutesfaye)
Halloween Las Vegas tombstone display is taken down | Daily Mail Online
http://twitter.com/bizutesfaye/status/920666572934356992
#VegasStrong display in neighborhood sparks controversy - KTNV.com Las Vegas
Someone thought this Vegas massacre Halloween display was a good idea | New York Post
Tombstone 'tribute' display of Vegas shooting victims draws mixed emotions | Wor