LAS VEGAS 3 October 2017: At least 59 people have been killed and some 527 injured in United States worst-ever mass shooting during an open-air country music festival in Las Vegas.
Terror spread through the city’s famous strip as a gunman launched an attack from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel, with prolonged automatic gunfire aimed at concert-goers, said Wam.
There were more than 22,000 people attending the concert.
64-year-old area resident Stephen Paddock, a white male, has no police record except for traffic violation.
Paddock lived in a quiet neighbourhood on a golf course. His girlfriend is overseas and police are awaiting her return to question her. They have initially ruled out her involvement or any links to any foreign terrorist organisations.
Described as a ‘lone’wolf’, retired accountant Paddock, with a flying pilot’s licence – is said to have acted alone.
He led a quiet life. His 90-year old mother knows of the massacre. His father, Benjamin, is dead, but was once on FBI’s top-10 most wanted list as a bank robber.
He checked into the hotel four days earlier on Thursday – leading to suggestions that his actions were pre-planned.
But all are foxed as to his motives – even as his brother Eric said he cannot understand how it could have happened.
He is said to have had more than 10 automatic guns.
Police confirmed the suspect, described as a resident of a retirement community in Mesquite, 80 miles from Las vegas, had shot himself when police moved in by blowing the hotel door open.