Las Vegas Strip returned to near normal operations, three days after the deadly rampage

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- FBI agents gathered at the site of the Route 91 harvest festival Wednesday, still piecing together evidence from a Sunday shooting that even now haunts Las Vegas.

"You look at Mandalay Bay and you see the busted out windows and think about the rage that had to be in his heart if in fact there was a heart beating at that time," said Steve Zychal.

The scene worked like a magnet once it reopened, drawing tourists and locals who wanted to pay their respects, leaving messages or candles or flowers.

"I was compelled. I don't know anyone. I feel like this is just a surreal moment. We were just walking here and you could just feel the presence of everyone who's here," said Rebecca Schmitt.

"This is hard to digest. It's just so sad. So sad," said Betty Shepard.

Betty Shepard's been through something like this before. On 9/11, she and her husband took off on a plane from Logan Airport, about the same time as two of the hijacked planes. In Las Vegas, they walked past Mandalay Bay 5 or 6 minutes before the rampage started.

"So this kinda brings back a lot, you know," said Shepard.

But the terror of Sunday night has dissipated, and the tourists aren't giving power to the shooter.

"Everyone asked us if we were going to continue our vacation. We're not going to let some idiot destroy our vacation or our lives," said Shepard.