58 dead in Las Vegas massacre
500 WOUNDED Lone shooter, an American white, fires at crowd from 32nd floor of hotel CONCERT MAYHEM 64yearold suspect, identified as Stephen Paddock, kills himself DEADLIEST US SHOOTING 10 guns seized from attacker’s room, terror link ruled out
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.
ATTACKER APPEARS TO BE A PSYCHOPATH
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.
Police said he had no criminal record in the county where he lived. Paddock’s brother, Eric Paddock, who lives in Florida, told the Orlando Sentinel: “We are completely dumbfounded. We can’t understand what happened.”
In an address to the country, President Donald Trump called the attack “an act of pure evil” and added: “In moments of tragedy and horror, America comes together as one. And it always has.” He ordered flags flown at half-staff.
Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said authorities believed it was a “lone wolf” attack. The homeland security department said there was no “specific credible threat” involving other public venues in the US.
ISLAMIC STATE CLAIM FALLS FLAT
In its claim of responsibility, the Islamic State said the gunman was “a soldier” who had converted to Islam months ago but it provided no evidence.
Attorney general Jeff Sessions offered the support of the FBI and other federal agencies but noted the investigation is being led by the sheriff in Las Vegas. That was seen as another possible sign the shooting was not believed to be an act of international terrorism.
Las Vegas authorities put out a call for blood donations and set up a hotline to report missing people and speed the identification of the dead and wounded. They also opened a “family reunification center” for people to find loved ones. Aldean was in the middle of a song when the shots came rapidly: pop-pop-pop-pop. Video showed Aldean stopping and the crowd going quiet as if it was unsure of what had happened.
The gunman paused and then fired another volley, the muzzle flashes visible from the casino, as victims fell to the ground while others fled in panic.
Some hid behind concession stands, others crawled under parked cars. Kodiak Yazzie, 36, said the music stopped temporarily when the first shots began and then started up again before the second round of pops sent the performers ducking for cover.