Update 3 | Over 50 dead, 400 injured in Las Vegas after deadliest shooting in modern US history

Over 50 people have been killed and 400 injured during an open-air concert, when a 'lone wolf' gunman opened fire on the crowd

Los Angeles law enforcement officers responding to the scene at the open-air music festival (Photo: WSB Radio)
Los Angeles law enforcement officers responding to the scene at the open-air music festival (Photo: WSB Radio)

Over 50 people were killed and 400 injured when a lone gunman, described as a "lone wolf" by LVMPD Sheriff Joe Lombardo, opened fire onto an outdoor country music festival, from a perch high up in the Bandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Sunday night. According to police, this is the deadliest shooting in modern US history.

Police said they were first alerted to reports of an incident at 10:08pm and then established that there was a shooter on one of the top floors of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino.

According to Lombardo, officers confronted the suspect on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, just across the street from the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival.

The gunman was identified by law enforcement officials as 64-year-old Stephen Paddock, a local resident of Mesquite, Nevada. 

During a search, authorities found several weapons in Paddock's room, after using explosives to enter, law enforcement officials reported. It was not immediately clear what kinds of weapons were found.

In the meantime, police have located Paddock's roommate, Marilou Danley, a 62-year-old Asian female for questioning, said Lombardo. They also found two vehicles, which they were searching for: a Hyundai Tucson and a Chrylser Pacifica Touring, both with Nevada license plates.

Off-duty police officers are among the dead, according to Lombardo. Identities have not yet been released.

A video posted online showed Jason Aldean performing outside the Mandalay Bay at Route 91 Harvest – a country music festival – when the sound of automatic gunfire rang out. The music stopped, and concertgoers ducked for cover. “Get down,” one shouted. “Stay down,” screamed another.

Witnesses said that the first round of shots sounded like fireworks. Only after the second burst of gunfire did the band stop playing.

"After the second round… everybody hit the ground around us," concert-goer Sean said.

"It seemed like people were hit everywhere."