LAS VEGAS (CBS News) — A shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip killed at least 59 people and wounded 527 others late Sunday (Oct. 1), Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said.
He said the man authorities think was the sole gunman was killed by police on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino across Las Vegas Boulevard from the Route 91 Harvest Festival, a country music festival.
“We believe it’s a solo actor. A lone wolf,” Lombardo said.
He said the gunman is an area resident.
A law enforcement source told CBS News a search warrant has been issued for the home of the shooter, identified as Stephen Paddock, of Mesquite, Nevada.
Police there told CBS News the suspect was white, in his 60s, had been living in a retirement community and hadn’t had any run-ins with law enforcement. He wasn’t a veteran, Mesquite police added.
Asked if authorities think the shooting was an act of terrorism, Lombardo replied, “No. Not at this point. … We don’t know what his belief system was at this time.”
Lombardo said authorities believe they had found a traveling companion of the deceased gunman they were seeking, who Lombardo said was the shooter’s roommate. Lombardo identified her as Marilou Danley.
He added that authorities had tracked down two vehicles believed associated with the shooting.
Two off-duty police officers attending the concert were killed, Lombardo said. An on-duty officer was in critical condition and another was wounded, Lombardo said.
A Bakersfield, California police officer was shot and taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The Bakersfield department said its officers weren’t in position to return fire when the shooting broke out.
The FBI and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were assisting local authorities with the investigation, the agencies said.
Dozens of patrol vehicles descended on the Strip after authorities received reports of an active shooter near the festival.
Concert-goers reported seeing muzzle flashes from the upper floors of the Mandalay Bay and the sound of what they described as automatic gunfire.
Fifty people were admitted to the University Medical Center, a spokesperson told CBS News. Of those, at least two died and several were in critical condition, the spokesperson added.
CBS News has been told at least three other area hospitals were taking in shooting victims.
To read more, CLICK HERE.
