By Karma Allen, Emily Shapiro and Julia Jacobo, ABCNews.com
At least 59 people were killed and 527 injured in Las Vegas Sunday night when a gunman opened fire on a music festival crowd from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, in what is now the deadliest shooting in modern U.S. history.
The death toll from the incident could possibly go up, said Clark County Coroner John Fudenberg in a press conference Monday afternoon.
Jason Aldean was the headliner of Sunday night's concert; video showed him rushing off the stage amid the gunfire. Other performers from this weekend included country stars Jake Owen, Big & Rich, Luke Combs and Dylan Scott.
'Non-stop gunfire' sends concert-goers scrambling for cover
The shooter, perched on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel, sent more than 22,000 country music fans scrambling for their lives.
One witness described the shooting as "non-stop gunfire."
Terrified bystanders ducked and ran, while some sprang into action, frantically caring for the wounded. Concertgoers who had just been enjoying the final night of the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival, which was taking place across the street from Mandalay Bay, made makeshift stretchers out of police barricades.
An official with Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport said "an airport perimeter fence near the concert venue was breached by people fleeing the scene of the incident," and airport staff "transported those people to the designated evacuation site."
A spokesperson for Allegiant Air said about 30 people who fled onto the airfield were sheltered overnight at one of the airline's facilities there. The airline said its staff helped people get clothes, charge their phones and contact loved ones.
First responders arrive to a bloody scene
As ambulances rushed to the scene, first responders plugged wounds with their bare hands and used their clothing to try to stanch each other's bleeding. At least one man described a stranger who died in his arms.
In addition to gunshot wounds, victim suffered injuries from shrapnel, from climbing fences and from being trampled, said Clark County Fire Chief Greg Cassell.
An off-duty Las Vegas police officer who was attending the concert is among the dead, police said. No on-duty emergency response personnel were injured, Cassell said.
16 firearms were found in shooter's hotel suite
Authorities said the suspected gunman -- 64-year-old Mesquite, Nevada resident Stephen Paddock -- checked into the Mandalay Bay hotel Thursday and brought the numerous firearms found in his room himself.
Two sources familiar with the investigation said there was a combination of rifles and handguns at the scene, and one of the sources said there were 16 weapons in the room. While he used multiple rifles in the attack, it is not yet clear whether he utilized them all, Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said in a press conference Monday afternoon, adding that some of the rifles had scope.
Ammunition and more than 10 suitcases were found in the room, Lombardo said. At one point, Paddock engaged with a security guard, who was shot in the leg through a doorway, Lombardo said.
In the wake of the shooting, the Las Vegas Police Department said authorities responded to a room on the 32nd floor of the hotel, where Paddock was found dead. Police said they believe Paddock killed himself prior to police entry.
Authorities believe Paddock used a device similar to a hammer to smash the windows of his two-room suite. After the shooting, Mandalay Bay and other hotels in the vicinity of the attack were placed on lockdown at the request of authorities, the resort said in a statement.
At least one gun dealer came forward to authorities to say that he sold weapons to Paddock, Lombardo said. Chris Michel, owner of Dixie Gunworx in St. George, Utah, told ABC News that Paddock came into his store three times -- always by himself. The first two times Paddock didn't buy anything, but the third time, he bought a shotgun. It is unclear is Michel is the gun dealer referenced by police.
Michel said Paddock seemed like "an average, everyday" guy and that his purchase was "legal in every way." He added that he does not know if the gun he told to him was used in the massacre.
A motive is still unclear
Police said Paddock had no criminal history, save a minor citation.
Eric Paddock, the suspected shooter’s brother, told ABC News, "We have no idea how or why this happened."
“As far as we know, Steve was perfectly fine,” he said.
Authorities initially said they were looking to speak with a companion of the shooter, Marilou Danley, whom Lombardo said he believes to be Paddock's girlfriend.
While Danley is out of the country, police said Monday morning that "detectives have made contact with her and do not believe she is involved with the shooting."
However, authorities will continue their investigation into Danley, Lombardo said. Police said she is out of the country and it's believed the suspect was using some of her identification.
The motive for the attack was unclear.
"I can't get into the mind of a psychopath," Lombardo said at a news conference this morning.
Officials said Monday morning they have found no connection between the shooting and any international terrorist group. Officials added that the suspect was not known to law enforcement.
--more at abcnews.com
At least 59 people were killed and 527 injured in Las Vegas Sunday night when a gunman opened fire on a music festival crowd from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, in what is now the deadliest shooting in modern U.S. history.
The death toll from the incident could possibly go up, said Clark County Coroner John Fudenberg in a press conference Monday afternoon.
Jason Aldean was the headliner of Sunday night's concert; video showed him rushing off the stage amid the gunfire. Other performers from this weekend included country stars Jake Owen, Big & Rich, Luke Combs and Dylan Scott.
 |
| People scramble for shelter at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival, Oct. 1, 2017, in Las Vegas. |
'Non-stop gunfire' sends concert-goers scrambling for cover
The shooter, perched on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel, sent more than 22,000 country music fans scrambling for their lives.
One witness described the shooting as "non-stop gunfire."
Terrified bystanders ducked and ran, while some sprang into action, frantically caring for the wounded. Concertgoers who had just been enjoying the final night of the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival, which was taking place across the street from Mandalay Bay, made makeshift stretchers out of police barricades.
An official with Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport said "an airport perimeter fence near the concert venue was breached by people fleeing the scene of the incident," and airport staff "transported those people to the designated evacuation site."
A spokesperson for Allegiant Air said about 30 people who fled onto the airfield were sheltered overnight at one of the airline's facilities there. The airline said its staff helped people get clothes, charge their phones and contact loved ones.
 |
| A man lays on top of a woman as others flee the Route 91 Harvest country music festival grounds after an active s |
First responders arrive to a bloody scene
As ambulances rushed to the scene, first responders plugged wounds with their bare hands and used their clothing to try to stanch each other's bleeding. At least one man described a stranger who died in his arms.
In addition to gunshot wounds, victim suffered injuries from shrapnel, from climbing fences and from being trampled, said Clark County Fire Chief Greg Cassell.
An off-duty Las Vegas police officer who was attending the concert is among the dead, police said. No on-duty emergency response personnel were injured, Cassell said.
16 firearms were found in shooter's hotel suite
Authorities said the suspected gunman -- 64-year-old Mesquite, Nevada resident Stephen Paddock -- checked into the Mandalay Bay hotel Thursday and brought the numerous firearms found in his room himself.
Two sources familiar with the investigation said there was a combination of rifles and handguns at the scene, and one of the sources said there were 16 weapons in the room. While he used multiple rifles in the attack, it is not yet clear whether he utilized them all, Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said in a press conference Monday afternoon, adding that some of the rifles had scope.
Ammunition and more than 10 suitcases were found in the room, Lombardo said. At one point, Paddock engaged with a security guard, who was shot in the leg through a doorway, Lombardo said.
In the wake of the shooting, the Las Vegas Police Department said authorities responded to a room on the 32nd floor of the hotel, where Paddock was found dead. Police said they believe Paddock killed himself prior to police entry.
 |
| Drapes billow out of broken windows at the Mandalay Bay resort and casino, Oct. 2, 2017, on the Las Vegas Strip |
 |
| A broken window is seen at The Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino following a mass shooting at the Route 91 Festival |
Authorities believe Paddock used a device similar to a hammer to smash the windows of his two-room suite. After the shooting, Mandalay Bay and other hotels in the vicinity of the attack were placed on lockdown at the request of authorities, the resort said in a statement.
At least one gun dealer came forward to authorities to say that he sold weapons to Paddock, Lombardo said. Chris Michel, owner of Dixie Gunworx in St. George, Utah, told ABC News that Paddock came into his store three times -- always by himself. The first two times Paddock didn't buy anything, but the third time, he bought a shotgun. It is unclear is Michel is the gun dealer referenced by police.
Michel said Paddock seemed like "an average, everyday" guy and that his purchase was "legal in every way." He added that he does not know if the gun he told to him was used in the massacre.
A motive is still unclear
Police said Paddock had no criminal history, save a minor citation.
Eric Paddock, the suspected shooter’s brother, told ABC News, "We have no idea how or why this happened."
“As far as we know, Steve was perfectly fine,” he said.
Authorities initially said they were looking to speak with a companion of the shooter, Marilou Danley, whom Lombardo said he believes to be Paddock's girlfriend.
While Danley is out of the country, police said Monday morning that "detectives have made contact with her and do not believe she is involved with the shooting."
However, authorities will continue their investigation into Danley, Lombardo said. Police said she is out of the country and it's believed the suspect was using some of her identification.
The motive for the attack was unclear.
"I can't get into the mind of a psychopath," Lombardo said at a news conference this morning.
Officials said Monday morning they have found no connection between the shooting and any international terrorist group. Officials added that the suspect was not known to law enforcement.
--more at abcnews.com
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