Former Oamaru man John Paton. Photo: Supplied

A former Oamaru man living in Las Vegas says the community there is incredulous at what has happened, but are pulling together in the face of horror.

John Paton (53) is an automation technician for Cirque du Soleil and works at the Michael Jackson One Theatre at the Mandalay Bay complex, where yesterday's horrific mass shooting took place.

Yesterday, luckily, he said, he finished work at 4pm, avoiding the horror.

The barrage from a 32nd-floor window in the Mandalay Bay hotel into a crowd of 22,000 people lasted several minutes, causing panic. 

Some fleeing fans trampled each other as police scrambled to find the gunman. 

At least 59 people were killed and more than 500 people injured, making it the largest mass shooting in US history

Mr Paton became aware of what was happening about 11.30pm last night, when news of a gun man opening fire at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival from Mandalay Bay Hotel lit up his news feed.

His work had told staff to stay home today.

"Every one is saddened by this senseless act.

"It's a very strong community response.

"A bunch of places are open for giving blood.

"People are checking up on there friends.

"I was talking to a local lady at the supermarket and she was saying just don't go to the strip.

"We are all just incredulous that this is happened here. There is a lot of sympathy for the families."

Mr Paton said  six months ago he had undergone preparations for an active shooter at work.

Once the scene was okayed by authorities he believed most workers in the area would return to their jobs despite the traumatic event.

"I'm sure they will go back straight away.

"The casinos lose money if they don't operate."

Mr Paton, who grew up on a dairy farm on Waiareka Valley Rd and went to Totara School said communities far from Las Vegas could also show support for people reeling from the attack by offering verbal and written support.

"Getting on Social media and reaching out. Letting the families know that normal people care about them and theirs."

The Las Vegas community as a whole was devastated, but it would rebuild.

"We are shattered. We always knew this could happen because we have large amounts of people visiting.

"The casinos won't take this lying down.

"A lot of thinking will be going on so this never happens again. We always hoped it would not happen.

He was unsure about how authorities might react to the latest mass shooting in America or if the mass killing would provide a push for changes around gun laws.

"Gun laws maybe a part of the solution What part of our crazy society precipitated this act... can we get the understanding of that. Then develop a better solution.

My personal opinion on gun laws is they can only alleviate the problem somewhat. It is not a total solution. There is a better solution than just gun laws."

"Vegas as a community will keep rolling. The show must go on."

shannon.gillies@odt.co.nz