Massacre at Vegas show
At least 58 killed and over 500 injured in deadliest US shooting Lone shooter fires at crowd from 32nd floor of Mandalay Bay hotel 64yrold suspect, identified as Stephen Paddock, kills himself
LAS VEGAS: A gunman perched on the 32nd floor of a Las Vegas hotel rained down a hail of bullets on an outdoor country music festival below, killing at least 58 people in the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history.
The barrage into a crowd of 22,000 people lasted several minutes, leaving at least 515 others injured on Sunday night. Some fleeing concertgoers trampled each other as thousands screamed and ran for their lives.
SWAT teams using explosives stormed 64-year-old gunman Stephen Craig Paddock’s hotel room in the sleek, gold-coloured glass skyscraper and found he had killed himself, authorities said. He had more than 10 guns with him, including rifles. Police found several more weapons at Paddock’s home in Mesquite, 145 km northeast of Las Vegas.
There was no word on a motive for the attack. Aaron Rouse, the FBI agent in-charge in Las Vegas, said investigators saw no immediate evidence connecting it to an international terror organisation, despite a claim of responsibility from the Islamic State.
Mayor Carolyn Goodman said the attack was the work of a “crazed lunatic full of hate”. Other US officials expressed skepticism of the Islamic State claim, saying there was reason to believe Paddock had a history of psychological problems.
Country music star Jason Aldean was performing on Sunday night at the end of the threeday Route 91 Harvest Festival in front of a crowd of more than 22,000 when Paddock opened fire from inside the 44-floor Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino across the street. Authorities said Paddock, who lived in a retirement community in Mesquite, Nevada, had checked into the hotel room on Thursday.
Gunman fires indiscriminately at the crowd from the 32nd floor