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LIVE UPDATES: Gunman kills at least 59 people in Las Vegas

BY and    | Updated: Oct 2, 2017 at 11:34 PM


Watch all Las Vegas police updates in the player above.

Latest updates from the 10 p.m. ET police briefing:

  • Officers have found more than 40 firearms belonging to suspect Stephen Paddock; 23 firearms at the Mandalay Bay hotel room and 19 at his home in Mesquite, Nevada, Assistant Clark County Sheriff Todd Fasulo told reporters.
  • Paddock is still believed to be the sole gunman, Fasulo said.
  • Officials said there has been an “overwhelming turnout” at blood donation centers today. So much so that centers did not need more blood donations at this time. “They have enough supply for the foreseeable future,” Fasulo said.

A gunman fired into the crowd at an outdoor concert Sunday night along the Las Vegas strip, killing at least 59 people and injuring more than 500 others, said Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo.

It is considered the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. The June 2016 shooting at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub left 49 people dead.

Warning: Some viewers may find video footage associated with this shooting disturbing.

What happened?

Around 10:10 p.m. local time on Sunday, as country music artist Jason Aldean was performing at the Route 91 Harvest Festival, a gunman began to fire from the 32nd floor of the nearby Mandalay Bay Hotel onto the crowd of more than 22,000 people. Members of the audience began screaming and running to find cover. The gunfire lasted about 5 to 10 minutes, witnesses said.

Aldean posted on Instagram that he and his crew were okay. “It hurts my heart that this would happen to anyone who was just coming out to enjoy what should have been a fun night,” he said.

Map by Reuters

“It was the craziest stuff I’ve ever seen in my entire life,” concertgoer Kodiak Yazzie, 36, told the Associated Press. “You could see a flash- flash- flash- flash.”

The AP posted the following raw video of the scene (WARNING: Some viewers may find the video disturbing):

A SWAT team from the Las Vegas police department located the room from which the suspect had been shooting. The team found the suspect dead, according to a statement from police. Lombardo said he believed the suspect killed himself before police arrived.

Who is the shooter?

Lombardo identified the gunman as Stephen Paddock, 64, of Mesquite — a town outside of Las Vegas. Lombardo said police located more than 10 rifles inside the hotel room. They did not yet have a motive.

Police do not believe Paddock was associated with a militant group, Lombardo said. Authorities had early Monday regarded Paddock’s roommate as a person of interest, but later that morning said they no longer believed she was related to the case, according to CNN and Fox News, citing police sources.

Reuters reported police had discovered two vehicles they believe belong to the suspect.

Police in the Dallas suburb of Mesquite, Texas told the Associated Press that Paddock lived there from 2004 to 2012, though he may have resided there longer. Lt. Brian Parish told the AP that he had no indication officers interacted with Paddock during that time.

Officials said they also found explosives, 18 firearms and several thousand rounds of ammunition during a search of Paddock’s home.

The shooting is being actively investigated by the FBI. Anyone with videos or photos from the shooting should call 1-800-CALLFBI or (800) 225-5324.

The victims

At least 59 people have died so far from the attack, police said. The Clark County Fire Department estimated 527 people were injured.

Officials said Monday afternoon that injuries were both from gunshot wounds and also from trying to flee the scene.

Lombardo said several Las Vegas police officers were killed or injured in Sunday’s attack. The AP reported some off-duty officers from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department also were wounded.

Las Vegas police have set up a phone number to call for those looking for their loved ones: 1-866-535-5654. Lombardo said the investigation would be a “long, laborious process.” Police said they have set up a family reunification area at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Hours after the shooting, people in Las Vegas lined up around the building to donate blood, news outlets reported.

How lawmakers are reacting

President Donald Trump sent his condolences to those affected via Twitter:

Mr. Trump expressed his support for the people of Las Vegas in an address to the nation later in the day. “We know that God lives in the hearts of those who grieve,” he said. “In moments of tragedy and horror, America comes together as one. … Our unity cannot be shattered by evil.”

He held a moment of silence at the White House on Monday afternoon.

The president plans to travel to Las Vegas on Wednesday to meet with families of the victims, law enforcement officials and first responders.

“My hearts aches for the victims, their loved ones, and our community,” Nevada Democratic Rep. Dina Titus said in a statement Monday. “I am grateful for law enforcement’s swift response and the many good Samaritans whose selfless acts of bravery showcased Las Vegas’ values to the world.”

Titus also said Las Vegas is a “resilient and benevolent town that will not be intimidated by acts of violence.”

Mr. Trump ordered flags to be lowered half-staff at the White House, public buildings and at military posts until Friday night in honor of the victims.

“As we grieve, we pray that God may provide comfort and relief to all those suffering,” he said in a statement.

Several lawmakers on Capitol Hill offered their condolences, offering support to the people of Las Vegas and the families of the victims.

“America woke up this morning to heartbreaking news. This evil tragedy horrifies us all,” House Speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement. “The whole country stands united in our shock, in our condolences, and in our prayers.”

Nevada Democratic Rep. Ruben J. Kihuen tweeted, “Very horrible news. Praying for everyone’s safety.”

Titus told reporters at a police briefing this morning that she and other local politicians stayed out of the way of first responders and officers “because you don’t want to turn a personal tragedy into a political event.”

Titus also urged people to donate blood because the donation centers “appreciate your thoughts and prayers, but what they need is blood.”

Several Democrats, however, raised the issue of gun control in the wake of the shooting. Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York called on Congress to act to “prevent the next senseless tragedy.”

“As we wait for answers as to how this happened and what the shooter’s motivations were, one thing is clear: enough is enough,” she said in a statement. “It is time for Congress to act. It is time for us to stop just sending our ‘thoughts and prayers’ and time for us to get serious about gun safety,” she added.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., sent Ryan a letter asking him to create a select committee on gun violence. She also asked Ryan to bring legislation that would close the federal background check loophole on gun purchases to the house floor for a vote.

Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee tweeted that Democrats were on the “NRA hit list.” “Why do we lead the world in non Isis mass killings? Too many crazies?too many #guns?laws to keep crazies from guns?” he also posted to Twitter.

PBS NewsHour will update this story as it develops. PBS NewsHour reporters Nsikan Akpan, Vanessa Dennis, Gretchen Frazee and Erica R. Hendry contributed to the reporting.

  • Larisa Epatko
    Larisa Epatko produces multimedia web features and broadcast reports with a focus on foreign affairs for the PBS NewsHour.
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