Killer’s girlfriend returns to US

> Paddock transferred US$100,000 to her before shooting, says NBI

LAS VEGAS: The girlfriend of Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock arrived back in the US on Tuesday evening and was met by FBI agents eager to hear whatever she might know about the motive behind his slaying of 59 people and wounding of more than 500 in the worst mass shooting in US history.

Although the FBI wants to talk to her, Marilou Danley, 62, is not in custody – she is classified as a “person of interest” to investigators – and is free to go wherever she wants, US media reported.

She was in the Philippines when Paddock opened fire with high-power rifles from a 32nd floor hotel room on Sunday night at a sea of concert goers below on the Las Vegas strip. He then killed himself. The Philippines’ FBI counterpart, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), said it had sought help in finding Marilou Danley.

“Danley arrived in the Philippines last month, and then there was a wire transfer to her account for US$100,000 (RM420,000) from Stephen,” NBI spokesman Nick Suarez said.

Danley is an Australian citizen who moved to the US 20 years ago to work on the casino strip, the Australian government confirmed on Tuesday.

“There are reports her ID was used for booking the hotel or some such detail,” Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop said.

“Australia will support the US authorities in their investigation in whatever way we can.

“But we have not had contact with Marilou Danley directly.”

Media reports said Danley was born in the Philippines.

However, the Philippine foreign department and Suarez said they could not confirm that.

As America mourned, President Donald Trump prepared to visit the desert city today. He has branded Paddock a “demented man.” Beyond Trump’s assessment, authorities were at a loss as to how a 64-year-old gambler and retired accountant had hauled a vast arsenal of weapons to the hotel and launched his assault.

Meanwhile, victims began to be identified in the media, each new story stirring emotions as America once again grappled with calls for reforms to its permissive firearm control laws. Trump was not ready to suggest answers. “What happened in Las Vegas is in many ways a miracle,” he said.

“The police department has done such an incredible job, and we’ll be talking about gun laws as time goes by.” – AFP