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Mandalay Bay shooting: at least 20 dead and 100 injured near Las Vegas casino Mandalay Bay shooting: at least 50 killed in America's deadliest mass shooting
(35 minutes later)
At least 20 people are dead and more than 100 injured after a mass shooting at a music festival near the Mandalay Bay casino on the Las Vegas strip. More than 50 people have been killed in the deadliest mass shooting in US history at a music festival near the Mandalay Bay hotel and casino on the Las Vegas strip.
The suspected gunman was killed by police on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel, across the street from the concert, said the Clark County sheriff, Joe Lombardo. A further 200 people are injured, the Clark County sheriff, Joe Lombardo, said in a briefing in the early hours of Monday morning. The death toll surpasses the Orlando shooting at the Pulse nightclub in June 2016. when 49 people were killed.
Lombardo did not release the suspect’s name but said he was a local resident. “We have no idea what his belief system was,” he said. “Right now, we believe he was the sole aggressor and the scene is static.” The suspected gunman was killed by police on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay, across the Las Vegas Boulevard from the concert. He was named as Stephen Paddock, a 64-year-old local man.
“We have no idea what his belief system was,” Lombardo said. “Right now, we believe he was the sole aggressor and the scene is static.”
Authorities were seeking a woman they named as Marilou Danley. Lombardo gave no details of whether she was suspected of involvement in the attack but described her as an “associate”.Authorities were seeking a woman they named as Marilou Danley. Lombardo gave no details of whether she was suspected of involvement in the attack but described her as an “associate”.
Marilou Danley is being sought for questioning re the investigation into the active shooter incident. If seen please call 9-1-1! pic.twitter.com/Z83XvcHejHMarilou Danley is being sought for questioning re the investigation into the active shooter incident. If seen please call 9-1-1! pic.twitter.com/Z83XvcHejH
Two off-duty officers were among the dead, said Lombardo, who added the death toll may rise. The attack took place during the final performances of the three-day Route 91 Harvest country music festival on Sunday night. Two off-duty officers were among the dead, and the overall toll may rise, said Lombard.
Witnesses who fled the scene described seeing multiple victims and dozens of ambulances after gunshots were heard during the final performances of the three-day Route 91 Harvest country music festival on Sunday night. Witnesses who fled the scene described seeing muzzle flashes from the upper floors of the Mandalay Bay and hearing what they described as sustained automatic gunfire.
They said they could see muzzle flashes from the upper floors of the Mandalay Bay hotel and casino, across Las Vegas Boulevard from the festival, and heard what they described as automatic gunfire.
“It was very obvious it was gunfire coming down into the crowd,” said Jackie Hoffing, who lives in Las Vegas. “It was hysteria. There were people trampled … I was with my husband. He stayed with me. We jumped walls, climbed cars, ran for our lives. I’ve never run that hard or been that scared in my whole life.”“It was very obvious it was gunfire coming down into the crowd,” said Jackie Hoffing, who lives in Las Vegas. “It was hysteria. There were people trampled … I was with my husband. He stayed with me. We jumped walls, climbed cars, ran for our lives. I’ve never run that hard or been that scared in my whole life.”
Desiree Price, visiting the city from San Diego, had blood on her shirt and trousers. “We heard shots like firecrackers,” she said. “I helped someone who was bleeding. Two girls hid behind a car with us right outside the concert. One girl was shot in her leg, the other in her shoulder. It didn’t stop so we all ran – we kept going.”Desiree Price, visiting the city from San Diego, had blood on her shirt and trousers. “We heard shots like firecrackers,” she said. “I helped someone who was bleeding. Two girls hid behind a car with us right outside the concert. One girl was shot in her leg, the other in her shoulder. It didn’t stop so we all ran – we kept going.”
The shooting began during a performance by country music star Jason Aldean. As the 40,000 people in the crowd began to flee, the music stopped temporarily and started up again before another round of gunshots sent the performers ducking for cover and fleeing the stage, Kodiak Yazzie, 36, told Associated Press. The shooting began during a performance by country music star Jason Aldean. As the 40,000 people in the crowd began to flee, the music stopped temporarily and started up again before another round of gunshots sent the performers ducking for cover and fleeing the stage, a witness told Associated Press.
Jake Owen, a country music star who played the set prior to Jason Aldean’s, wrote on Twitter that “gun shots were ringing off of the stage rigging and road cases”. He suggested that the gunman was aiming at the stage at times. “No one knew where to go,” he added.
Many of those who ran from the festival site sought refuge in nearby motels, parking garages and apartment complexes. At a gas station across the street, survivors reunited with friends. Some were teary eyed, still shaking with fear.Many of those who ran from the festival site sought refuge in nearby motels, parking garages and apartment complexes. At a gas station across the street, survivors reunited with friends. Some were teary eyed, still shaking with fear.
Kevin Kropf, from Orange County, California said: “I stayed in the venue for a long time until there was nobody else there. I saw a Swat team go in and a Swat team go out. I didn’t want to get up because I didn’t want to get mistaken for a bad guy and get shot. So I was just huddling behind a table.Kevin Kropf, from Orange County, California said: “I stayed in the venue for a long time until there was nobody else there. I saw a Swat team go in and a Swat team go out. I didn’t want to get up because I didn’t want to get mistaken for a bad guy and get shot. So I was just huddling behind a table.
“I saw a couple people on the street covered up with sheets, and them loading one girl into the back of a truck. She was definitely dead … Whoever she was with was in the back of the truck too. He was a mess.”“I saw a couple people on the street covered up with sheets, and them loading one girl into the back of a truck. She was definitely dead … Whoever she was with was in the back of the truck too. He was a mess.”
Some flights resumed at the city’s McCarran international airport on Monday morning after all planes were temporarily grounded on Sunday evening.Some flights resumed at the city’s McCarran international airport on Monday morning after all planes were temporarily grounded on Sunday evening.
Las Vegas city hall said it was a “very sad night for Las Vegas” and warned members of the public to stay away from the south end of the Vegas strip, where the Mandalay Bay hotel and casino is located. Las Vegas city hall said it was a “very sad night for Las Vegas” and warned members of the public to stay away from the south end of the Vegas strip, where the Mandalay Bay is located. The music festival has been held for the past four years on a 15-acre lot across the strip from the hotel and casino.
The music festival has been held for the past four years on the 15-acre lot.