Billy Graham Response Team returns from Las Vegas shooting site

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Some members of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team returned from Las Vegas following the Oct. 1 mass shooting.

Seventeen chaplains went there to provide comfort and strength to the victims and pray with them, and for them.

Jeff Naber just returned home after spending 8 days in Vegas.    As soon as he heard the news about the mass shooting outside the Mandalay Bay he knew he was going with the deployment team.

He saw the impact immediately, Naber said. When he arrived at his hotel, the manager was worried about her employees.

It's normal for people to be in shock for days after this kind of event,” Naber said.

He said many of the shooting victims didn't want to talk at first, but eventually, they did.

BGEA chaplains worked closely with the local police and FBI.

Several of the chaplains on the team are retired law enforcement officers.

Naber saw the emotional toll on the officers who had to respond.

“And the things that they saw,” Naber said. “Emotional, spiritual impact.”

He said this goes beyond the 58 victims, the hundreds of people that were injured, and the $21,000 people who were at the event. They will be affected by the tragic event, as well as Naber.

Naber said the deployment team has a good system because of lessons learned from the attacks in London, Manchester and Barcelona.

Cox Media Group