Las Vegas security guard killed at music festival to be buried
A Las Vegas security guard who was shot trying to help people escape the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival will be laid to rest this week.
The family of 21-year-old Erick Silva will hold a visitation service from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, with his funeral set for 10 a.m. Thursday. Both events will be at Davis Funeral Chapel, 6200 S. Eastern Ave. He will be buried at Davis Memorial Park.
Silva worked for the Las Vegas branch of the Contemporary Services Corporation, which provided 200 security guards for the Oct. 1 festival where 58 people were killed and 489 wounded.
Jay Purves, director of the corporation, said Silva was stationed in front of the stage and shot as he helped attendees climb over a barricade to flee the gunfire.
“That’s just the type of person he was,” Purves said. “He had a contagious smile and a willingness to help anyone, no matter what the situation was. I think his character and integrity was a direct reflection of his mother. He always wanted to please her.”
Purves said the security company is paying for Silva’s funeral. They also started a GoFundMe page to raise money for Silva’s family.
Silva was the family’s primary breadwinner, Purves said.
The Las Vegas High School graduate had plans to become a Metro police officer. Purves said he recently talked to Silva about a promotion as a full-time supervisor. Purves said a new officer training center will be named after Silva.
“Erick was a shining star,” Purves said. “He was actually the epiphany of integrity, excellence and service. He always went above and beyond of what we asked of him.”
Contact Sandy Lopez at slopez@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4686. Follow @JournalismSandy on Twitter.
