Christopher Louis Roybal, a 28-year-old Caucasian male, was a Navy veteran who had served four tours in Afghanistan. He was in Las Vegas with his mother, Debby Allen, to celebrate his upcoming 29th birthday. On the evening of October 1, 2017, Christopher was attending the Route 91 Harvest music festival. He and his mother were on opposite sides of the stage when the shooting began.
Just as Jason Aldean started his performance, a barrage of gunfire rained down on the crowd of over 22,000
people. The shots were fired by Stephen Paddock from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Amid the chaos, Christopher's military instincts kicked in, and he began helping people to safety, pushing them over barriers and under the stage for protection. Tragically, in the process of saving others, Christopher was shot and killed.
His mother, Debby Allen, was separated from him when the shooting started. After escaping the immediate danger, she frantically tried to call him, but he never answered. She knew then that something was terribly wrong. Christopher was remembered as a kind, funny, and compassionate person who loved life and music. He had a passion for karaoke and was known for his infectious smile and laugh.
The perpetrator of this horrific act, Stephen Paddock, a 64-year-old man, was found dead in his hotel room from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Las Vegas police and the FBI concluded that Paddock acted alone in meticulously planning and carrying out the attack. While they believe he sought notoriety, a clear motive for the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history was never determined. There have been no other arrests made in connection with the shooting.
