University of Florida student among injured in Las Vegas shooting

Author: WKMG
Published:
(Photo: Kristin Babik/Facebook)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. A University of Florida law student was wounded in Sunday’s mass shooting at a Las Vegas music festival, school officials confirmed Monday.

Kristin Babik, a third-year law student, was in stable condition following the shooting, according to a message posted on Twitter by university president Kent Fuchs.

In an email to students and faculty, the law school’s dean, Laura Ann Rosenbury, wrote that she had spoken with Babik, who has broken ribs and a collapsed lung.

“Thankfully, the gunshot missed Kristin’s major organs and spine, but she suffered a collapsed lung and broken ribs,” Rosenbury stated, adding that Babik is on bed rest.

Babik confirmed that information in a Facebook post Monday, saying: “I am doing well and in a stable condition. I am incredibly thankful to be alive and to have so many caring people in my life.”

The mass shooting, the deadliest of its kind in modern U.S. history, happened as country music star Jason Aldean was on stage during the Route 91 Harvest Festival.

Gunfire erupted mid-song from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino onto the crowd of more than 22,000 below, turning the venue into a killing field.

As of Monday, at least 59 people had died and more than 500 more were injured in the shooting.

News 6 reporter Adrianna Iwasinski spoke with Babik’s brother Monday, Jeff Babik. He said their mother was on a flight out to Las Vegas to be with his sister.

Jeff Babik said he learned of the shooting at 2 a.m. Monday after his family received a call from a nurse in Las Vegas. Kristin Babik had a law internship in Las Vegas over the summer and was there visiting friends.

Jeff Babik said people who want to help his family can donate to the GoFundMe page started for his sister.

SWAT teams located and stormed the gunman’s hotel room, where they found him after he had apparently taken his own life, authorities said.

Authorities said the gunman, identified as Stephen Craig Paddock, a 64-year-old retiree from Mesquite, Nevada, had as many as 10 guns with him, including rifles.

The FBI said preliminary information suggests ISIS was not connected to the attack, contrary to claims made by the international terror group.

A public vigil for the shooting victims is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Gainesville outside City Hall.

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