On the evening of October 1st, Stephen Paddock killed 58 people and injured hundreds more at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas. Fortunately, Dexter resident Justin Zimmerman left the festival unharmed and told his story to Raccoon Valley Radio.

Zimmerman described the event as a “mini state fair” with lots of people and music. Zimmerman explained the moment he heard the gunshots, and how his Iowa upbringing alerted him to what was happening. “We were just kind of chilling in the back and, (heard) some unexpected noise coming from the right. It’s something you’ve never heard before at a concert. Being from Iowa you kind of know really quickly that’s gunfire and you just hit the deck and try to take cover.”

At first Zimmerman thought there was an electrical or microphone malfunction while country music star Jason Aldean was performing. Zimmerman initially ducked to the ground when he heard the shots, thinking it was an ambush. After realizing the shots were coming from the distant Mandalay Bay Hotel, Zimmerman ran out of the concert .

Although Zimmerman could hear the shots, he never feared for his life. “I never felt threatened. I never felt like the bullets were for me. The venue is so big and I was back far enough that I don’t think he knew that I was there, or was a target.”

Everyone in Zimmerman’s party made it out safe. After the chaos, Zimmerman is just happy to be healthy and home. “I love Iowa. I love this area. Vegas is fun but not a place I want to stay very long. It was a heck of an experience, but I’m just happy to be home in Iowa.”

For more reaction from the evening, listen to Zimmerman on today’s Let’s Talk Guthrie County program.