At least 50 people have been killed and more than 200 injured at a country music festival in Las Vegas, in the worst mass shooting in US history. Two police officers are among the dead.
The shooter was named by police as Stephen Paddock who at 64 years old is the oldest mass shooter in US history. Several rifles were found in his room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel where he fired multiple rounds at the concert goers at the Route 91 harvest country music festival.
Paddock was a described as a “lone wolf” with no known links to terrorist groups. His motives are unknown. A Swat team used a controlled explosion to enter his hotel room on the 32nd of the Mandalay Bay hotel.
Police believe they have located Paddock companion Marilou Danley after launching a public hunt for her. She is wanted for questioning and is described as a person of interest.
Paddock’s house in Mesquite, Nevada is being searched. His two vehicles have been found.
Donald Trump tweeted his condolences and sympathies. His planned trip to hurricane-hit Puerto Rico has been delayed.
Jason Aldean, the country music star who was performing as the shooting took place, described the scene as “beyond horrific”. He said he and his crew were safe, but added: “It hurts my heart that this would happen to anyone who was just coming out to enjoy what should have been a fun night.”
Concertgoers reported seeing muzzle flashes from the upper floors of the Mandalay Bay hotel and several videos of the aftermath show hundreds of people fleeing in panic as shots continued. Around 40,000 people were attending the festival.
Some flights have resumed at the city’s McCarran International airport after all planes were temporarily grounded on Sunday evening.
