It’s been two years since the deadliest mass shooting committed by an individual in the history of the United States happened in this city we call home, Las Vegas. 

58 innocent lives were lost that night, October 1, 2017, at the Route 91 festival, including community member Erick Silva. Erick was working as festival security on that 1 October night that would claim his life.

Back on February 11, 2013, Erick shares a post on our Facebook community page, that he is looking for more friends in Las Vegas. He has often been described by others as more than just a friend, described as a giver who longed to serve his community.

In an interview with the Review-Journal Ericks' best friend, Tylaicha Price recalled a drive she had with him passing out water bottles to homeless people, “It wasn’t out of character for Erick to put others before himself,” she said. “He liked seeing people happy. It was part of his magnetic personality.”

His mother, Angelica Cervantes, describes him as a best friend, having a very close relationship full of jokes, laughs and surprise gifts. Angelica always worried about the day he would move out and leave her, he was her everything, her heart, and soul, her best friend.

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Security was a natural fit for Erick as he hoped to one day be a police officer, he longed to help people. Erick also had a great sense of humor, his mother remembered him setting up fake delivered packages outside of his home luring unsuspecting thieves into a trap involving a handwritten message, the entire exchange set to be recorded on camera.

Most of all Erick is remembered as a hero who saved several concertgoers. In a FOX5 Las Vegas video, best friend Amanda Marie Cavero says, “he saved seven lives that night before he lost his.”

In its second year, an annual tribute event honoring Erick Silva for his heroism will be held on Friday, October 11 at 4 pm inside the East Las Vegas Community Center at 250 N. Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89104. Members from across the Vegas community have reached out to support the event.

Many entertainers who were present or affected by the Route 91 tragedy have created songs honoring and memorializing the many victims. One artist is Pat Dalton Amico who has written songs “58 Angels” and “Forever Family.” Another artist, Oscar Roman has performed and recorded several songs honoring Erick Silva with the help of his mother in creating the lyrics. The songs, “Las Vegas Still Strong,” “Un Heroe en Las Vegas” and “Tu Nombre Y Tu Historia” are in both English and Spanish.

Lately, Erick Silva’s story reached Presidential Candidate Sen. Kamala Harris who met his mother Angelica Cervantes. Kamala embraced Angelica as she cried saying, “It’s ok if you cry. It’s good to cry sometimes. It’s ok. It’s emotion. It’s good to have emotion. That’s what gives us the fight.”

Recently, Senator Harris has continued to communicate plans to take action on gun violence.

Since the Route 91 tragedy, outdoor festivals have continued to see a decline in attendance and are still being the target of mass shootings. Another mass shooting occurred at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in Gilroy, California, on July 28, 2019, killing several attendees. In another local incident, Conor Climo, was arrested by the FBI and charged in federal court for planning to attack LGBTQ and Jewish communities in Las Vegas.