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Las Vegas shooting: Gunman Stephen Paddock kills 50 people | Las Vegas shooting: Gunman Stephen Paddock kills 50 people |
(35 minutes later) | |
More than 50 people have been killed and hundreds injured in a mass shooting at a Las Vegas concert. | |
A gunman, named as 64-year-old Nevada resident Stephen Paddock, opened fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel towards an open-air music festival attended by 22,000. | |
He was found dead after officers stormed the room where a number of guns were found. | He was found dead after officers stormed the room where a number of guns were found. |
The attack is the worst mass shooting in recent US history. | The attack is the worst mass shooting in recent US history. |
US President Donald Trump tweeted his "warmest condolences and sympathies" to the victims and their families, and called the shooting "terrible". | US President Donald Trump tweeted his "warmest condolences and sympathies" to the victims and their families, and called the shooting "terrible". |
Sheriff Joe Lombardo described the shooting as a "lone wolf" attack and there was no information about Paddock's motives. | |
"We have no idea what his belief system was," he said. | "We have no idea what his belief system was," he said. |
Police say he may have shot himself. | |
Sheriff Lombardo added that police were now confident they had located a woman, earlier named as Marilou Danley, who was thought to have been travelling with the gunman before the attack. | |
A police statement said the shooting began at 22:08 local time on Sunday (05:08 GMT on Monday). Paddock was described as a white male from Mesquite, some 60 miles (100 km) north-east of Las Vegas. | |
Fire officials said 406 people were taken to hospitals. | |
'Attack will stun America' | 'Attack will stun America' |
By the BBC's James Cook, in Las Vegas | By the BBC's James Cook, in Las Vegas |
This has been a mass shooting which has shocked Las Vegas - it has stunned this city. It is very clear that it will be an event which will stun the USA too, a country in which, regrettably, such mass shootings - even if on a lesser scale - are not uncommon. | This has been a mass shooting which has shocked Las Vegas - it has stunned this city. It is very clear that it will be an event which will stun the USA too, a country in which, regrettably, such mass shootings - even if on a lesser scale - are not uncommon. |
As to to why the gunman may have carried out this attack, there is no indication of motive at this stage. He was said to have had a large arsenal, a huge number of weapons in that hotel room, which police finally stormed using explosives. | As to to why the gunman may have carried out this attack, there is no indication of motive at this stage. He was said to have had a large arsenal, a huge number of weapons in that hotel room, which police finally stormed using explosives. |
As to why he would have set himself up up there in that way, to do as he did, it is just so, so difficult to fathom. | As to why he would have set himself up up there in that way, to do as he did, it is just so, so difficult to fathom. |
Witnesses reported that hundreds of shots were fired. | Witnesses reported that hundreds of shots were fired. |
Hundreds of people fled the scene and the sound of what appeared to be prolonged automatic gunfire could be heard on videos posted on social media. | Hundreds of people fled the scene and the sound of what appeared to be prolonged automatic gunfire could be heard on videos posted on social media. |
Many hotels on the Las Vegas strip close to the scene remained on police lockdown and parts of Las Vegas Boulevard were shut. | Many hotels on the Las Vegas strip close to the scene remained on police lockdown and parts of Las Vegas Boulevard were shut. |
People sheltered in hotels, restaurants and at Las Vegas McCarran airport. | People sheltered in hotels, restaurants and at Las Vegas McCarran airport. |
A witness, Mike Thompson from London, told the BBC that he saw people running in total panic. | A witness, Mike Thompson from London, told the BBC that he saw people running in total panic. |
"One man had blood all over him and that's when I knew something was seriously wrong. | "One man had blood all over him and that's when I knew something was seriously wrong. |
"People were running and there was chaos." | "People were running and there was chaos." |
Concert-goer Mike McGarry told Reuters he lay on top of his children when the shots rang out. | Concert-goer Mike McGarry told Reuters he lay on top of his children when the shots rang out. |
"They're 20, I'm 53. I lived a good life," he said. | "They're 20, I'm 53. I lived a good life," he said. |
They survived. | They survived. |
Some flights were diverted after news of the incident emerged. | Some flights were diverted after news of the incident emerged. |
The country music festival had been taking place since Friday at several hotels on the Las Vegas strip. | The country music festival had been taking place since Friday at several hotels on the Las Vegas strip. |
Singer Jason Aldean, who was rushed off stage when the shooting started, shared on Instagram that he was safe but heartbroken and did not know what to say. | Singer Jason Aldean, who was rushed off stage when the shooting started, shared on Instagram that he was safe but heartbroken and did not know what to say. |
"Tonight has been beyond horrific," he wrote. | "Tonight has been beyond horrific," he wrote. |
"It hurts my heart that this would happen to anyone who was just coming out to enjoy what should have been a fun night." | "It hurts my heart that this would happen to anyone who was just coming out to enjoy what should have been a fun night." |
Nevada has some of the least stringent gun laws in the United States. | Nevada has some of the least stringent gun laws in the United States. |
People are allowed to carry weapons and do not have to register themselves as a gun-owner. | People are allowed to carry weapons and do not have to register themselves as a gun-owner. |
Background checks are done when people buy guns, but they are also allowed to sell them privately. | Background checks are done when people buy guns, but they are also allowed to sell them privately. |
Are you in Las Vegas? Have you been affected by the incident? If it's safe to do so, share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in Las Vegas? Have you been affected by the incident? If it's safe to do so, share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |