With at least 59 people reported to have been killed, the massacre at Las Vegas country music concert, Route 91 Harvest Festival, is one of the deadliest mass shootings in US history.
Police have identified 64-year-old Stephen Craig Paddock as the lone gunman. He was found dead inside the 32nd floor room of the Mandalay Bay Hotel, where he rained gunfire down on the 22,000 concertgoers during country star Jason Aldean’s set on Sunday evening. More than 500 other attendees have been injured in the shooting that does not yet appear to have a clear motive.
Australian connection
Australian citizen 62-year-old Marilou Danley, whose identification was found with the shooter, was questioned as a person of interest but later cleared by Las Vegas police. It is understood Danley, who lived on the Gold Coast 20 years ago, was in a relationship with Paddock but was out of the country when the shooting took place.
Shooter’s brother
The gunman’s brother Eric Paddock said the family was “lost” when interviewed by Nancy Alvarez on Channel 9 Eyewitness News. “There’s nothing I can say. My brother did this. It’s like he shot us. I couldn’t be more dumbfounded.”
Jason Aldean
Jason Aldean, who was performing at the time of the shooting, posted a ‘Pray for Las Vegas’ photo to Instagram, with the caption — “Tonight has been beyond horrific. I still don’t know what to say but wanted to let everyone know that me and my crew are safe. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved tonight. It hurts my heart that this would happen to anyone who was just coming out to enjoy what should have been a fun night. #heartbroken #stopthehate.
The performer can be seen running from the stage as Paddock opens fire.
Insane…. this JUST happened. #PrayForVegas pic.twitter.com/RWgjFW7BHy
— Luke Broadlick (@LukeBroadlick) October 2, 2017
Gun laws
Josh Abbott Band member, Caleb Keeter, has tweeted “We need gun control. RIGHT. NOW. The guitarist, who performed at the Las Vegas festival earlier that night, said he had been a “proponent of the 2nd amendment” his whole life but called it his “biggest regret”.
— Caleb Keeter (@Calebkeeter) October 2, 2017
