Las Vegas PD lauded for online response during mass shooting
The agency tweeted updates for both reporters and citizens during and after the chaos, along with publishing its news conferences. Here are a few lessons in crisis communication.
As a Las Vegas concert turned tragic, many flocked to social media for information.
On Sunday night, 64-year-old Stephen Paddock opened fire on a crowd of people attending a concert at the Route 91 Harvest Festival. It is the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.
Paddock, who is now dead, fired shots from the window of his 32nd-floor hotel room at Mandalay Bay Resort before police officers entered the room. At least 50 people were killed and more than 200 were injured in the shootings and resulting pandemonium.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department immediately turned to Twitter to update area citizens and members of the news media:
We’re investigating reports of an active shooter near/around Mandalay Bay Casino. Asking everyone to please avoid the area. #LVMPDnews
— LVMPD (@LVMPD) October 2, 2017
Media staging area will be at South Central Area Command parking lot, 4860 S. Las Vegas Blvd. https://t.co/Zwn2gjl1J7
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