MACON, Ga. — Georgia native Jason Aldean says he’s devastated by the death of his friend and bodyguard of many years.
The country music superstar posted on social media Wednesday night that Ryan Fleming died earlier that day.
Aldean said he and Fleming grew up together, and that he was a bouncer at his favorite bar in Macon when he was 18 years old. Fleming then went on to work for the sheriff’s department when he was older.
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Fleming was affectionately known to his friends as “Rhino.”
When Aldean’s career began to take off, he immediately knew who to hire for his security detail.
“When it came time for me to hire a security guy that I knew would always look out for me and my family, There was no question for me that person was Rhino,” Aldean wrote.
Aldean said that Fleming traveled around the world with him for years, and was the person who helped saved his life during the 2017 Las Vegas shooting.
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“He was the person who pulled me offstage during the Route 91 shooting and put his life in danger to take care of me and my crew,” Aldean said.
Aldean was the final performer and was in the middle of his hit song “When She Says Baby” when gunfire erupted.
Aldean wrote at the time that the experience was “beyond horrific.”
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“Tonight has been beyond horrific. I still don’t know what to say but wanted to let everyone know me and my crew are safe. It hurts my heart that this would happen to anyone who was just coming out to enjoy what should have been a fun night,” Aldean said in an Instagram post.
There is no word on Fleming’s cause of death.
“He was a good man and an even better friend. We will all miss you brother and thank you for having my back all these years. We love ya Rhino! RIP,” Aldean wrote.
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