Paddock also thought about attacking other events before Las Vegas. He had researched events in Boston since at least May 2017, and had reserved a room near the August 2017 Lollapalooza festival in Chicago, but did not use it.[5][6]
Attack
After Paddock used a hammer to break two of the windows in both of his suites at the Mandalay Bay, he began shooting through them at 10:05p.m.[7] He ultimately fired over 1,000 rifle rounds[8] approximately 490 yards (450 m) into the festival audience.[9][10][a] He started out with a few single gunshots before firing in bursts that usually ranged from 80 rounds to 100 rounds. Many people in the crowd thought the gunfire was fireworks.[11] During the shooting, a security fence stopped people from escaping the 15-acre concrete lot.[12] The gunfire continued, with some short pauses, over the span of ten minutes and ended by 10:15p.m. During these pauses (during reload and while the assailant was confronting Campos), most people at the concert were able to escape the venue.[13][14]
At 10:12p.m., two officers on the 31st floor reported the sounds of gunfire on the floor above them.
Between 10:26 p.m. and 10:30p.m., eight additional officers arrived at the 32nd floor. At 10:55p.m., the officers finished evacuating guests. At 11:20p.m., police breached Room 32–135 with explosives.[16] Paddock was found dead on the floor from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.[2][17] At 11:27p.m., officers announced over the police radio that a suspect was down.[18]
Perpetrator
The shooter was identified as 64-year-old Stephen Craig Paddock, who lived in Mesquite, Nevada.[19] Police, relatives and neighbors described him as a gambler.[20] When police arrived at his hotel room, Paddock was found dead there; he had killed himself with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His motive for the shooting is unknown and has not been discovered by investigators.
Reactions
PresidentDonald Trump posted on Twitter of his "warmest condolences and sympathies to the victims and families of the terrible Las Vegas shooting".[21] In a public meeting with the press the next morning, he said the shooting was an "act of pure evil", a "senseless murder" and a "terrible, terrible attack". He praised the "miraculous" quick action of first responders. Later, he met with the victims on October 4, along with their relatives and police.[22]
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Wagner, Meg; Rocha, Veronica; Wills, Amanda; Grinberg, Emanuella (October 2, 2017). "Las Vegas shooting: Live updates". CNN. Archived from the original on October 2, 2017. Retrieved October 2, 2017.