In what authorities are calling the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history, a gunman killed at least 50 people and injured more than 400 Sunday night at an outdoor country music concert in Las Vegas by firing from the 32nd floor of a hotel.
The number of deaths surpasses the carnage from the Orlando nightclub shooting in 2016, where 49 people were killed, according to initial reports.
The gunman began firing shortly after 10 p.m. local time, or 1 a.m. EST, as singer Jason Aldean was wrapping up the Route 91 Harvest Festival on the Las Vegas Strip.
Police identified the gunman as Stephen Paddock, 64, who they said died after a SWAT team used explosives to get into his hotel room at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.
The Associated Press reported shortly after 9 a.m. Eastern that police said the shooter killed himself before officers entered the room.
The office of Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo estimated 50 were killed and said 406 were taken to hospitals, AP reported
Police said they believe the mass murder was a lone-wolf attack not connected to Islamist-inspired terrorism.
Police identified a woman who lived with Paddock as Marilou Danley, 62, but later said they don’t believe she had anything to do with the shooting. Police said the two shared a single-family home in the Sun City Mesquite retirement community, about 80 miles north of Las Vegas, AP reported.
In an Instagram post, Aldean said the shooting was “beyond horrific,” adding: “It hurts my heart that this would happen to anyone who was just coming out to enjoy what should have been a fun night.”
President Donald Trump said in a Monday morning tweet: “My warmest condolences and sympathies to the victims and families of the terrible Las Vegas shooting. God bless you!”
AP reported that White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the president was “briefed on the horrific tragedy in Las Vegas.”
Sanders added: “We are monitoring the situation closely and offer our full support to state and local officials. All of those affected are in our thoughts and prayers.”
This report has been updated as developments occurred.
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