The death toll is rising after a mass shooting at a country music festival in Las Vegas.
Jason Aldean was performing during the final set at Route 91 Harvest Festival on the Vegas strip Sunday night (October 1) when gunfire broke out, reportedly from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino. As of press time, reports indicate that more than 50 people are dead, with more than 200 wounded.
CNN reports that Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo confirmed that the gunman has been identified as 64-year-old Stephen Paddock. He was killed at the scene.
Police first responded to reports of shots being fired from Mandalay Bay around 10:08 p.m. local time. Witnesses at the scene tell CNN the gunshots “lasted for 10 to 15 minutes. It didn’t stop.”
Mandalay Bay owner MGM Resorts tweeted the following: “This evening there was a tragic active shooter situation at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip. Law enforcement and emergency personnel responded quickly to the incident a secured the scene. Law enforcement requested that we put hotels in the vicinity on lockdown to ensure guest safety. We will provide more information as it becomes available.”
Las Vegas sheriff now says more than 50 people are dead, more than 200 wounded. This would be deadliest mass shooting in US history
— Steve Brusk (@stevebruskCNN) October 2, 2017
Police: More than 20 people killed and "well in excess of 100 injured" in #LasVegas shooting pic.twitter.com/qZ4pDWNXH3
— Sky News (@SkyNews) October 2, 2017
The Las Vegas shooting is the deadliest mass shooting in US history. https://t.co/0bfKgJRhBg
— CNN (@CNN) October 2, 2017
At least 50 dead and at over 100 injured after mass shooting on Las Vegas strip #vegas https://t.co/ZUe0taxnd2 pic.twitter.com/1fZrs38c5I
— Pont & Cas Express (@PandCExpress) October 2, 2017
Featured Mandalay Bay image via Paul Haydock-Wilson, Wiki Commons.