The death toll from the horrific shooting in Las Vegas has reached 58. The gunman firing from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel into a crowd at a country music festival across the street from the casino, also left more than 500 people wounded or injured.
Las Vegas police have identified the shooter as Stephen Paddock, a 64-year-old man who resided in Mesquite, Nevada. Early reports indicated that police shot and killed Paddock; that report has since been revised.
NBC News reports:
Early reports indciated that police had taken into custody Marilou Danley, identified as Paddock’s “traveling companion” and “roommate.” She is actually overseas, with one report having her in the Phillipines, and police no longer call her a “person of interest” in the case.
Reports indicate that Paddock might have been using an automatic weapon; numerous videos have been posted to social media; the audio certainly indicates at least semi-automatic fire.
Video shows police racing to the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas amid gunfire at a country music concert.
(credit: Lawrence Barnard) https://t.co/4Ur5A84IfM“
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The shooting took place shortly after 10 p.m. PT while headliner Jason Aldean performed on stage at the Route 91 Harvest festival.
Paddock’s brother spoke to NBC News and said the family was “at a loss.”
President Donald Trump addressed the nation just before 11 a.m. on Monday. Trump, who will visit Las Vegas on Wednesday, condemned the attack as “an act of pure evil” and ordered the country’s flags set to half-staff.
“Our unity cannot be shattered by evil. Our bonds cannot be broken by violence,” the president said. “And though we feel such great anger at the senseless murder of our fellow citizens, it is our love that defines us today.”
Trump also praised the “courageous efforts” of police and first responders at the scene.
“The speed with which they acted is miraculous, and prevented further loss of life,” he said. “To have found the shooter so quickly after the first shots were fired is something for which we will always be thankful and grateful.”
Meanwhile, the FBI said Monday that the agency had found no connection between Paddock and any international terror group. ISIS had claimed credit for the attack Monday morning, claiming that the shooter had converted to Islam months prior.
“We have determined, to this point, no connection with an international terrorist group,” an FBI agent told reporters Monday. “As this investigation continues, we will continue to work with our partners to ensure that this is factually, thoroughly, and absolutely investigated, to be able to bring comfort and peace back to this community.”
Las Vegas police said they believed Paddock was a “lone wolf” whose motives were a mystery.
“I can’t get into the mind of a psychopath,” Lombardo said.
The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed law enforcement officials, said Monday afternoon that Paddock “appears to have used at least one fully automatic rifle” and had from 18 to 20 guns in his hotel room.
This post will be updated as the situation develops.
