Las Vegas, U.S. - At least 59 people have been killed, including at least two police officers, and more than 527injured after at least one gunman unloaded hundreds of rounds of ammo on a Las Vegas country music festival on Sunday night. There were 30,000 people in attendance at the event.
The Strip has been completely shut down after the sniper opened fire on the Route 91 Harvest country music festival from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay resort and casino, located across a junction from the event. Police confirmed that one suspect had been killed, and said at 12:38am that they believed there were no more shooters. Reports of shootings at other locations were unfounded, police said.
The shooter, later identified as Stephen Paddock, 64, unloaded hundreds of rounds of ammunition. His live-in companion Marilou Danley has now been ruled out as a suspect. It is believed he had an arsenal of at least ten guns, including automatic weapons, in his hotel room. Paddock was a licensed pilot and hunting enthusiast with no criminal record and owned a $400,000 home in nearby retirement community. Speaking at a press conference early Monday morning, police said that they did not believe there were any more active shooters, and that claims of other explosive devices and suspicious cars were just rumours.
Two police officers who engaged the shooter have been hospitalized - one in critical condition, one less severely wounded. They have not been identified. At least two other police officers are believed to have died in the crowds, having attended the music festival while off duty. (FA)
