Riverbend Church staffer recovering after Vegas shooting

AUSTIN, Texas - It's clear Danae Gibbs is a county music fan.
               
Her Tweets over the weekend were about the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas and staying up 24 hours just to get to hear Eric Church.
               
When the unthinkable happened Sunday night, Gibbs was caught in the line of fire.
               
"She was shot twice is what we're aware of, once in the groin area and once in her abdomen," said Riverbend Church children's pastor Todd Mears. 

Mears spoke with Danae's mom Didi early Monday morning as she was about to board a plane to Vegas.

"To say that Didi was shaken was an understatement but through prayer and the conversation she got on board just I don't know how you handle a situation like this," Mears said.

Mears said Danae's family has been going to Riverbend for years. 

"Incredible, giving heart, heart for others, just loves people.  She's pretty much grown up on this church property," Mears said.

Now Gibbs is on staff at the church working in children's ministry.  Hearing what happened to Danae is tough for Pastor David Haney.

"It's nice when one of your own grows up and comes home so this is really personal for us.  This is a family a family wound for us," he said.

"We've got people there in Las Vegas, family and some of our other staff members.  Their parents live out there and we've been able to connect them with her so our arms are long and that feels good in this moment," Mears said. 

Mears said he got to chat with Danae by phone Monday morning a conversation he was thankful he could have.

"I was fortunate enough to be able to also talk to Danae on the phone this morning after she got out of surgery.  She was very groggy but she's in a recovery process and I asked her if she remembered what happened and she did.  We didn't go into it.  But got to pray with her," Mears said.

Riverbend Church says doctors are feeling pretty good about Danae's condition after surgery.  They said she is expected to be in the hospital in Vegas 2 to 3 more days then she'll get to come home.