At least 58 dead, more than 500 hurt in Las Vegas attack

People scramble for shelter at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after apparent gun fire was heard on Oct 1, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo: AFP / David Becker)

LAS VEGAS: A gunman killed at least 58 people and wounded up to 515 at a country music festival on the Las Vegas Strip on Sunday, raining down rapid fire from the 32nd floor of a hotel for several minutes before killing himself.

The death toll would make the attack the deadliest mass shooting in US history, eclipsing last year's massacre of 49 people at an Orlando night club.

The gunman, a 64-year-old local man named Stephen Paddock, opened fire from his hotel room on the 32nd floor at around 10.08pm on Sunday night, police said.

When authorities responded to the call and breached his hotel room, they found the suspect dead.

In a press conference on Monday morning, Las Vegas Metro Police Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said that Paddock killed himself before police officers raided his room.

“We believe the individual killed himself prior to our entry,” Lombardo said, adding that some 10 weapons were found in his room.

He added that Paddock had been in the hotel room since Sep 28.

"I have no idea whether he prevented the house keepers from entering the room or not. That is a matter for continued investigation," Lombardo said.

ISIS CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY

Islamic State issued a statement through its news agency Amaq claiming responsibility for the shooting, saying that the attacker had converted to Islam a few months ago.

However, two senior US officials have come forward to state that there was no evidence that the shooter, 64-year-old Stephen Paddock, was tied to any international militant group.

One of the officials discounted Islamic State's claim of responsibility and said that there was a reason to believe the shooter had a history of psychological problems.

NOTHING TO SUGGEST MOTIVE: POLICE

When asked why authorities did not regard the incident as domestic terrorism, Lombardo said police have found nothing to suggest a motive for Paddock's attack.

"We have to establish what his motivation is first. There are motivating factors associated with terrorism other than a distraught person just intending to cause mass casualty," Lombardo said.

Police earlier confirmed that Paddock's Asian female companion Marilou Danley, who was previously at large, was located. But later on Monday authorities said they no longer regarded her as related to the case, CNN and Fox News reported, citing police sources.

Video clips posted online showed what sounded like automatic weapons as panicked concertgoers fled while others dropped to the ground screaming.

One Twitter user posted that the hotel was on lockdown, while another, citing police scanners, posted there were two shooters on the 32nd floor of the hotel who had shot at a bodyguard and police.

'WE'RE HORRIFIED'

The suspected shooter's brother, Eric Paddock, said the family was stunned by the news.

"We have no idea. We're horrified. We're bewildered and our condolences go out to the victims," Eric Paddock said in a brief telephone interview, his voice trembling. "We have no idea in the world."

US President Donald Trump offered his condolences to the victims via a post on Twitter early Monday.

In a televised address to the nation, Trump described the mass shooting as "an act of pure evil."

"Last night a gunman opened fire on a large crowd at a country music concert in Las Vegas, Nevada. He brutally murdered more than 50 people and wounded hundreds more. It was an act of pure evil," he said.

Mr Trump added that he would be visiting Las Vegas on Wednesday to meet with law enforcement, first responders and the families of the victims.

"In moments of tragedy and horror, America comes together as one, and it always has," he said.

The concert venue was in an outdoor area known as Las Vegas Village, across the Strip from the Mandalay Bay and the Luxor hotels.

"Our thoughts & prayers are with the victims of last night's tragic events," the Mandalay Bay said on Twitter.