Practical Eschatology: Las Vegas Massacre

Monday, October 2, 2017

Las Vegas Massacre

I wonder what this officer thought she was going to do with her shotgun.
The shooter was 32 stories up. (Source)

As most of you are aware, a shooter identified as Stephen Paddock, 64 years old, opened fire on the Route 19 Festival in Las Vegas, leaving 59 people and 527 injured. Like most shootings, there is going to be a lot of "facts" change as the investigation continues. It is likely that some relevant information may never be released. For instance, some of you may remember the 2007 Trolley Square shooting in Salt Lake City, where the police never discerned a motive, yet refused to disclose that the shooter was a Muslim.

According to news reports, Paddock opened fire at the concert venue from a room (or rooms) on the 32 floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort casino and hotel. It seems established that at least one of the weapons he used was capable of full automatic fire, although the reports are mixed on whether they were illegally converted or he had purchased NFA weapons. He had selected a corner suite (or adjoining rooms), broken out two windows giving him good coverage of the concert venue, and had at least two weapons mounted on tripods. Reports vary, but he apparently had a total of between 10 and 20 weapons in the hotel room (most reports say 16). Most reports indicate that he was acting alone, but a few report that a Hispanic woman down in the crowd was telling people prior to the shooting that they were all going to die. Interestingly, Paddock's live-in girlfriend was out of the country.

Investigators currently state that they have no motive for the shooting, although ISIS is claiming that Paddock had converted to Islam recently. Paddock's brother has denied that the shooter was a firearms aficionado, and said he was unaware of any political or religious leanings that may have inspired Paddock to commit the crime. Some have speculated that Paddock was addicted to gambling, insinuating that he had financial problems. However, he is also described as a multi-millionaire. What is clear is that he carefully planned this attack.

The articles I have read also indicate that it took police an hour and 12 minutes (72 minutes) from the time of the first 911 call to when they breached his room. According to reports, the police searched each floor as they went up. Paddock purportedly killed himself before the officers entered, although some articles have stated that he was shot by police. Frankly, the response time was pathetic, and reminds me of the Orlando shooting and Columbine shooting where bureaucratic inertia and outdated training and tactics paralyzed police.

Sources: