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Las Vegas shooting: Trump dubs killer 'sick and demented' Las Vegas shooting: Trump dubs killer 'sick and demented'
(about 1 hour later)
President Donald Trump has described the gunman who killed 59 people and injured 527 in Las Vegas on Sunday as "a sick man, a demented man".President Donald Trump has described the gunman who killed 59 people and injured 527 in Las Vegas on Sunday as "a sick man, a demented man".
Speaking at the White House, he said he would look at gun laws "as times goes by" but did not elaborate.Speaking at the White House, he said he would look at gun laws "as times goes by" but did not elaborate.
Police are still trying to find out why Stephen Paddock, 64, opened fire on an open-air concert from the 32nd floor of the nearby Mandalay Bay Hotel.Police are still trying to find out why Stephen Paddock, 64, opened fire on an open-air concert from the 32nd floor of the nearby Mandalay Bay Hotel.
Police found 23 guns in his room and firearms and explosives at his home.Police found 23 guns in his room and firearms and explosives at his home.
Photos from the hotel room of guns used in the attack have been obtained by Boston 25 News.Photos from the hotel room of guns used in the attack have been obtained by Boston 25 News.
As yet, no clear reason for the killing has emerged and investigators have found no link to international terrorism. Some investigators have suggested Paddock had a history of mental illness, but this has not been confirmed.As yet, no clear reason for the killing has emerged and investigators have found no link to international terrorism. Some investigators have suggested Paddock had a history of mental illness, but this has not been confirmed.
Paddock, who appears to have killed himself before police stormed his hotel room, had no criminal record and was not known to police.Paddock, who appears to have killed himself before police stormed his hotel room, had no criminal record and was not known to police.
Speaking to reporters as he was about to board the presidential helicopter, Mr Trump said Paddock was "a sick man, a demented man. Lot of problems, I guess, and we're looking into him very, very seriously".Speaking to reporters as he was about to board the presidential helicopter, Mr Trump said Paddock was "a sick man, a demented man. Lot of problems, I guess, and we're looking into him very, very seriously".
When asked, Mr Trump declined to call the attack domestic terrorism.When asked, Mr Trump declined to call the attack domestic terrorism.
On the issue of gun control, the president said: "We'll be talking about gun laws as time goes by."On the issue of gun control, the president said: "We'll be talking about gun laws as time goes by."
Mr Trump, whose position on gun control has changed over the years, gave no further detail.Mr Trump, whose position on gun control has changed over the years, gave no further detail.
'Resilience in the face of tragedy' 'City of heroes'
Rajini Vaidyanathan, BBC News in Las Vegas By James Cook, BBC, Las Vegas
As daylight breaks, a golden hue falls on the mirrored façade of the Mandalay Bay hotel. The bereaved are beginning to tell their stories.
If you look closely you can see the broken windows on the 32nd floor, from where Stephen Paddock sprayed bullets. They speak of lives wasted, families broken, futures stolen.
Back at street level, yellow police tape stretches along the roads nearby. The lights on the world famous Las Vegas strip went dark last night, as hundreds gathered at a vigil. This is a city in pain but it is also a city of heroes, bursting with tales of bravery and resourcefulness in saving lives.
At another vigil at City Hall, 59 candles were lit, one for every person who perished. There are the police officers who risked death on the 32nd floor to stop the shooting.
There I met Jon Dimaya, a nurse who was off duty on Sunday. He rushed to work as soon as he heard the news, and treated dozens of victims witnessing injuries he'd never seen before. There are the music fans who shielded friends and loved ones from bullets, who comforted dying strangers and who commandeered trucks to get the wounded to hospital.
This city has displayed so much resilience in the face of tragedy, and Jon is just one vivid example of this. He told me that as he worked through the night to help the injured, he was also dealing with a personal tragedy - some of his colleagues' partners had been killed. There are the surgeons who continue to labour in the operating theatres, saving lives, barely aware if it's day or night.
Follow Rajini on twitter - @BBCRajiniv And there are the citizens of Las Vegas proving the selfish, greedy stereotype of their city wrong — queuing from before dawn to give blood, handing out cups of coffee and bagels for free, opening their doors to those most in need.
Above all else though there is grief. It is both personal and extensive.
The scale of the suffering inflicted here is difficult to comprehend and even harder to bear.
What do we know of the gunman?What do we know of the gunman?
Stephen Paddock, a former accountant with a big gambling habit, lived in a community of senior citizens in the small town of Mesquite, north-east of Las Vegas.Stephen Paddock, a former accountant with a big gambling habit, lived in a community of senior citizens in the small town of Mesquite, north-east of Las Vegas.
He reportedly lived with a woman called Marilou Danley, who was out of the country in Japan and did not appear to be involved in the shootings, police said.He reportedly lived with a woman called Marilou Danley, who was out of the country in Japan and did not appear to be involved in the shootings, police said.
Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said that when police officers searched the property after the attack, they found 19 "additional firearms, some explosives and several thousand rounds of ammo, along with some electronic devices we're evaluating at this point".Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said that when police officers searched the property after the attack, they found 19 "additional firearms, some explosives and several thousand rounds of ammo, along with some electronic devices we're evaluating at this point".
Officers also found ammonium nitrate in Paddock's car - the chemical compound used in fertilisers can be used to make bombs such as that used in the 1995 Oklahoma City attack.Officers also found ammonium nitrate in Paddock's car - the chemical compound used in fertilisers can be used to make bombs such as that used in the 1995 Oklahoma City attack.
David Famiglietti of the New Frontier Armory told the BBC that Paddock had purchased firearms at his store in North Las Vegas in the spring of this year, meeting all state and federal requirements, including an FBI background check.David Famiglietti of the New Frontier Armory told the BBC that Paddock had purchased firearms at his store in North Las Vegas in the spring of this year, meeting all state and federal requirements, including an FBI background check.
However, the shotgun and rifle Paddock bought would not have been "capable of what we've seen and heard in the video without modification", Mr Famiglietti said.However, the shotgun and rifle Paddock bought would not have been "capable of what we've seen and heard in the video without modification", Mr Famiglietti said.
The fast shooting rate audible in recordings of Sunday night's attack indicates that Paddock may have modified his guns with legal accessories to make them fire at speeds approaching those of automatic weapons.The fast shooting rate audible in recordings of Sunday night's attack indicates that Paddock may have modified his guns with legal accessories to make them fire at speeds approaching those of automatic weapons.
Despite the large cache of weapons found in the killer's home, his brother, Eric, is struggling to accept that he acted in this way. He said he was "in shock, horrified, completely dumbfounded".Despite the large cache of weapons found in the killer's home, his brother, Eric, is struggling to accept that he acted in this way. He said he was "in shock, horrified, completely dumbfounded".
So-called Islamic State claimed on Monday to be behind the attack, saying Paddock had converted to Islam some months ago. But the group provided no evidence for this and has made unsubstantiated claims in the past.So-called Islamic State claimed on Monday to be behind the attack, saying Paddock had converted to Islam some months ago. But the group provided no evidence for this and has made unsubstantiated claims in the past.
The IS claim of responsibility for the Las Vegas attack is very unusual in that the perpetrator's profile does not fit that of supporters or "soldiers" that the group has claimed in the past, writes Mina al-Lami, who monitors jihadist groups for the BBC.The IS claim of responsibility for the Las Vegas attack is very unusual in that the perpetrator's profile does not fit that of supporters or "soldiers" that the group has claimed in the past, writes Mina al-Lami, who monitors jihadist groups for the BBC.
The FBI said it had found "no connection to an international terrorist organisation".The FBI said it had found "no connection to an international terrorist organisation".
How did the attack unfold?How did the attack unfold?
The final shows of the three-day Route 91 country music festival were in full swing when the gunman struck.The final shows of the three-day Route 91 country music festival were in full swing when the gunman struck.
According to police, Paddock had booked into the hotel four days earlier, on 28 September, reportedly using some of Ms Danley's identity documents.According to police, Paddock had booked into the hotel four days earlier, on 28 September, reportedly using some of Ms Danley's identity documents.
Aside from the 23 guns found in the two-room hotel suite, Sheriff Lombardo said there were 10 suitcases.Aside from the 23 guns found in the two-room hotel suite, Sheriff Lombardo said there were 10 suitcases.
Thousands were enjoying a performance by top-billing singer Jason Aldean when the first of several bursts of automatic gunfire rang out, starting at 22:08 local time (05:08 GMT on Monday).Thousands were enjoying a performance by top-billing singer Jason Aldean when the first of several bursts of automatic gunfire rang out, starting at 22:08 local time (05:08 GMT on Monday).
Hundreds of shots were fired over at least 10 minutes.Hundreds of shots were fired over at least 10 minutes.
Concert-goers scrambled for cover, flattening themselves against the ground, rushing for the exits or helping others to escape as Paddock sprayed the site from his high vantage point.Concert-goers scrambled for cover, flattening themselves against the ground, rushing for the exits or helping others to escape as Paddock sprayed the site from his high vantage point.
It is thought he moved between two windows in his suite as he carried out the attack.It is thought he moved between two windows in his suite as he carried out the attack.
A specialised Swat police team later stormed the suite to find Paddock shot dead.A specialised Swat police team later stormed the suite to find Paddock shot dead.
Minutes before, a hotel security guard was injured when Paddock fired through the door.Minutes before, a hotel security guard was injured when Paddock fired through the door.
Accounts of heroism
The aftermath of the mass shooting has revealed several of those caught up in the mayhem did their utmost to help others.
Todd Blyleven, a former minor league baseball player, told the Washington Post that after helping his friends, he returned to help others get out of the venue.
The paper says he joined a "group of volunteers" and may have helped remove 30 or 40 people from the gunfire.
Twenty-nine-year-old Sonny Melton, of Tennessee, was fatally shot while helping his wife, Heather.
"He grabbed me and started running when I felt him get shot in the back," she told WMV-TV in Nashville.
"I want everyone to know what a kind-hearted, loving man he was, but at this point, I can barely breathe."
Others killed in the mass shooting include a Navy veteran who had just returned from a tour of Afghanistan, and an off-duty police officer who also coached youth football.
Did you witness the Las Vegas shooting? If you feel able to share your experience you can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Did you witness the Las Vegas shooting? If you feel able to share your experience you can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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