Last night, more than 50 people were killed and over 500 injured when a man opened fire on a country music festival crowd from his hotel suite. According to AZ Central, among those who lost their lives in this tragedy was a Disneyland Resort Cast Member. 34-year-old Carrie Barnette reportedly worked at the Pacific Wharf Cafe and Flo’s V-8 Café in Disney California Adventure, graduated from Pacifica High School in Garden Grove, California, and lived in Riverside. Barnette’s cousin, Janice Chambers, told The Arizona Republic, “I knew she was there, we have been up all night awaiting news. We knew she had been shot. This morning a friend with her confirmed she is gone.” She described Barnette as being the “life of the party.” Many friends, co-workers, and others have also taken to social media to mourn Barnette death.
Disney CEO and Chairman Bob Iger shared this message on Twitter:
Later, Iger also sent a letter to cast, which indicated that Disneyland Cast Member Jessica Milam was among those injured in the attack:
In the wake of the tragic events in Las Vegas last night, our hearts go out to everyone impacted by the violence – the victims, the witnesses, and the friends and families mourning loved ones.
As news of the event continues to unfold, we are devastated to learn that a valued member of our own Disney family, Carrie Barnette, was among those killed in the Las Vegas shooting. Carrie was part of our culinary team at Disney California Adventure, most recently working at Flo’s V-8 Café in Cars Land. She just celebrated her 10th anniversary at Disney earlier this year. We’re in touch with her family, offering our heartfelt condolences as well as any support they may need in this incredibly difficult time.
Jessica Milam, an attraction hostess at Tomorrowland in Disneyland, was also seriously injured. She is currently hospitalized, and I ask that you join me in praying for her swift and complete recovery.
I know we have many more Disney employees impacted by this latest act of senseless violence, who were either onsite or had loved ones who were. Our hearts are with each of them as they begin to process this terrifying experience.
Sadly, the Las Vegas shooting now ranks as the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history according to several outlets. Many have also drawn connections to last year’s shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, which claimed the life of Walt Disney World Cast Member Jerald Arthur Wright.
UPDATE: We have just learned that another Disneyland Resort cast member is still hospitalized due to the shooting. Bobby Bradshaw, a broadcast tech, is the second known cast member to be hospitalized.