Las Vegas: 59 dead, 527 injured at worst mass shootings in US history
What can be described as the worst mass shooting by one man in United States History took place on Sunday night midway during the 2017 edition of the at the Route 91 Harvest open air festival concert in Las Vegas, US. Shooting erupted from the 32nd floor of the Casino wing, Mandalay Bay hotel, across the road facing the venue of the festival.
According to preliminary investigations by the SWAT team of intelligence officers, the shooter, Stephen Craig Paddock, from Nevada State, acted alone, killed himself and has no link with terrorist bodies. Police say additional 18 assault rifles and related arms found in his house during search.
He has ammonium nitrate in his car parked inside the hotel premises. The chemical which is not solely explosive unless mixed with some chemical compounds is used in making bombs and also fertilizer.
Analysts say there is much to the shooting as by all indications, Stephen has been amassing weapons for too long before the crime.
Several theories are coming up. Top among them include possibility of having lost so much money in poker gambling within the period or fed up with life even though he is described by close relations and friends as a wealthy guy.
Already, US President Donald Trump has addressed citizens and pledged to visit site on Wednesday after a visit to Puerto Rico today, Tuesday.
The massacre started about 10:08 p.m. Sunday Nigerian time (1:08 a.m. ET Monday) at the Route 91 Harvest festival, Lombardo said.
Thousands of country music fans ran for cover Sunday night as a gunman fired hundreds of bullets from a hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, officials said.
At least 515 people were hurt in the gunfire and ensuing stampede at the Jason Aldean concert, police said.
Benge, who was enjoying the concert with his sister when he heard a relentless onslaught of at least “200 to 300” bullets, lauded the heroics of his sister, who “threw herself on top of me and said, ‘I love you, Taylor,'” he said.
“Even after an hour and 30 minutes, I didn’t know if I was safe.”
Witness Bryan Hopkins said he survived by jumping into a walk-in freezer at the Mandalay Bay hotel.
“There must have been, I don’t know, 23 to 30 of us inside this freezer,” he said.
“The firing went on forever,” witness Kimberly Chilcote said.
She and her husband ran in short bursts — sprinting and hiding to avoid being targeted.
“There were purses and shoes everywhere … there were bodies and blood,” she said. “We just kept running.”
Corrine Lomas recalled the heroism of fellow concertgoers, risking their lives to save others.
“A lot of really good people (were) holding people’s wounds shut, trying to help them while everybody was just ducked down,” she said.
Police said they believe Paddock acted alone. “Right now, we believe it’s a sole actor, a lone-wolf-type actor,” the sheriff said.
However, his brother who spoke to the Press, said Stephen has no history of violence or crime even though their father whom both of them did not know physically due to his criminal history was a bank robber who died as most wanted criminal.
Key facts of the attack include 58 killed, over 22,000 in attendance, 515 hurt in Las Vegas shooting; Gunman dead in hotel room with 16 rifles and 18 at home making 34 high caliber fire arms; Stephen, 64, was a ‘Wealthy accountant who loved poker; Officers’ blast through door; Jason Aldean: Singer runs off stage as shooting erupts; and he was shooting from an average distance of 40 yards.
Currently, 100s have lined up for blood donation at different hospitals where the injured are being treated.
As mass shootings have become almost routine in America — at least 1,518 have taken place since 2012’s Sandy Hook massacre, according to the Gun Violence Archive — so too have the details that have typically emerged about the shooters themselves in the hours after these heinous attacks.
President Trump’s full statement on the Las Vegas shooting
My fellow Americans, we are joined together today in sadness, shock, and grief. Last night, a gunman opened fire on a large crowd at a country music concert in Las Vegas, Nevada. He brutally murdered more than 50 people, and wounded hundreds more. It was an act of pure evil.
The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security are working closely with local authorities to assist with the investigation, and they will provide updates as to the investigation and how it develops.
I want to thank the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and all of the first responders for their courageous efforts, and for helping to save the lives of so many. The speed with which they acted is miraculous, and prevented further loss of life. To have found the shooter so quickly after the first shots were fired is something for which we will always be thankful and grateful. It shows what true professionalism is all about.
Hundreds of our fellow citizens are now mourning the sudden loss of a loved one — a parent, a child, a brother or sister. We cannot fathom their pain. We cannot imagine their loss. To the families of the victims: We are praying for you and we are here for you, and we ask God to help see you through this very dark period.
Scripture teaches us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” We seek comfort in those words, for we know that God lives in the hearts of those who grieve. To the wounded who are now recovering in hospitals, we are praying for your full and speedy recovery, and pledge to you our support from this day forward.
In memory of the fallen, I have directed that our great flag be flown at half-staff.
I will be visiting Las Vegas on Wednesday to meet with law enforcement, first responders, and the families of the victims.
In moments of tragedy and horror, America comes together as one — and it always has. We call upon the bonds that unite us — our faith, our family, and our shared values. We call upon the bonds of citizenship, the ties of community, and the comfort of our common humanity.
Our unity cannot be shattered by evil. Our bonds cannot be broken by violence. And though we feel such great anger at the senseless murder of our fellow citizens, it is our love that defines us today — and always will, forever.
In times such as these, I know we are searching for some kind of meaning in the chaos, some kind of light in the darkness. The answers do not come easy. But we can take solace knowing that even the darkest space can be brightened by a single light, and even the most terrible despair can be illuminated by a single ray of hope.
Melania and I are praying for every American who has been hurt, wounded, or lost the ones they love so dearly in this terrible, terrible attack. We pray for the entire nation to find unity and peace. And we pray for the day when evil is banished, and the innocent are safe from hatred and from fear.
May God bless the souls of the lives that are lost. May God give us the grace of healing. And may God provide the grieving families with strength to carry on.
Thank you. God bless America. Thank you.
