Las Vegas dealership offers free rides to donate blood in wake of shooting

A Las Vegas dealership began offering free rides to those looking to donate blood to the victims of the largest mass shooting in U.S. history.

At least 58 people were reportedly killed and more than 500 wounded in the shooting near Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

"We haven't even talked about selling a car, selling a service, selling a part," Don Forman, store owner of United Nissan, told Automotive News. "The only thing our team is talking about right now is the events that happened last night and what we can do as a team to help with the cure. That's all we're talking about."

About 90 percent of the 220 employees at United Nissan in Las Vegas had been accounted for by late Monday morning local time. The group is also reaching out to its two affiliated Southern California dealerships.

The shooter, Stephen Craig Paddock, 64, opened fire during a performance at the Route 91 Harvest festival held at Las Vegas Village, which is on the Las Vegas Strip, across from the Luxor Resort and Casino. He fired down on the crowd of about 22,000 festival goers from the 32nd floor of nearby Mandalay Bay.

"We had a couple of employees -- kids at the event -- we found out they were fine this morning," Forman said.

The dealership began offering rides early Monday afternoon, sending staff members in shifts to donate at two designated locations in the city. Forman said residents could simply call the store and leave their address with one of the staff members. If the person is close enough, "we're just going to run a car out to drop you off," he said.

Commercial vans, normally used for shuttle service at the dealership, will also be posted along a route to take prospective donors where they need to go.

"From Las Vegas, it has been just a horrific event. I think I was up all night watching this on the news," Forman said. "Words can't describe how horrible this is for our city. You always think this happens someplace else."

Ride-hailing service Uber, a sponsor of the Harvest event, immediately turned off surge charging in the wake of the attack and refunded all rides in Las Vegas around and after the time of the shooting, the company said Monday.

"Our hearts ache for everyone affected by this senseless tragedy. We stand ready to support the victims and the Las Vegas community as they recover from this devastating act," an Uber spokesman said in an email.

Uber is also providing free rides to and from area hospitals, the family reunification center, and United Blood Services donor centers for those who wish to donate blood.