Authorities are saying that the gunman had an "automatic machine gun" before relentlessly spraying bullets into a crowd, killing 50+ and injuring 400+. When police stormed the rooftop of a building the gunman was on, they discovered the man had took his own life. The body was identified as 64-year old Stephen Paddock. Reports are coming out saying that this may have been the deadliest ever shooting attack in modern US history.
As to what the reason was for his massacre is currently unknown. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility, however authorities have stated otherwise. The President has announced the attack to be an "act of pure evil".
Updates:
- Paddock has never had a criminal record, other than a traffic citation.
- Paddock lived a relatively happy life, he was wealthy and had a pilot's license, owned two airplanes.
- Paddock has no history of mental illness and wasn't facing any financial issues.
- A woman was yelling out to people "you're all going to die!" just less than an hour before the massacre.
- Two windows were found broken in the casino hotel, Paddock likely didn't stay in one spot to shoot people.
- Paddock wasn't showing any previous suspicious activity enough for him to be under surveillance beforehand.
- Ammonium Nitrate, an explosive chemical ingredient for bombs was found in Paddock's car.
- Despite the US's gun laws, automatic guns are illegal, such heavy weaponry like Paddock's fully-automatic machine gun cannot be purchased legally.
- The reason why Paddock had went on a rampage is still unknown.