Baden native shot in Las Vegas concert mass shooting

LAS VEGAS — Among those fighting for their lives in Las Vegas is a Beaver County native.

Rosemarie Trautman-Melanson, who is from Baden in Beaver County, was in the crowd with her daughter when they were both shot. Her daughter, who is recovering from being shot in the arm, spoke to Channel 11.

Rosemarie Trautman-Melanson was shot in the chest and is still in critical condition.

Their connection to Pittsburgh is strong because they have a lot of relatives who still live here.

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Many of them flew to Las Vegas to be with the Melansons during this horrific time.

"I was covered in blood, all over my legs, all over my arms," Paige Melanson told Channel 11 over FaceTime on Tuesday afternoon.

Paige and her mother were hit during the first round of gunfire at the country music festival in Las Vegas.

"My mom was just lying there. We had rolled her over and she had blood all over her right chest,” Paige said.

Paige said a man ran over and put pressure on her mother's wound.  The gunfire started again and the man gave Paige and those standing with her only one option.

"He looked at us dead in the eyes and said, ‘If you want to live, you need to run. You need to run and leave her here.’"

Paige left her mom behind.  She said it was the hardest decision of her life.

For the next 11 hours, Paige, her father and her siblings were in a position that's hard for anyone to imagine -- not knowing if Rosemarie was dead or alive.

"We just had to sit and pray. We prayed all night," Paige said.

Rosemarie's family finally found her 11 hours later – at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas.

Rosemarie survived.  She is in critical but stable condition and is expected to recover.

Paige has a scar from the gunshot wound on her elbow. She's healing, but is still in a lot of pain.

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The Melansons' friends in Las Vegas started a GoFundMe account for them.

They hope their network of family and friends in and around Pittsburgh will also support them.

Paige said they need all the help and prayers they can get.

"As bad as she is, we thank our lucky stars,” Paige said. “I mean, she's alive and they do see her recovering."

Cox Media Group