Who Was Las Vegas Shooter Stephen Paddock And What Was His Motive
by Tyler Durden Oct 2, 2017 9:06 AM
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-10-02/who-was-las-vegas-shooter-stephen-paddock-and-what-was-his-motive
Snip:
Las Vegas Shooter's Brother Eric Paddock Expresses Shock: He Was Just A Guy (Full Interview) | MSNBC
https://youtu.be/FMMy-0JeFtY?rel=0
by Tyler Durden Oct 2, 2017 9:06 AM
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-10-02/who-was-las-vegas-shooter-stephen-paddock-and-what-was-his-motive
Snip:
While there are still relatively few details about the man responsible for the deadliest mass shooting in US history, or his motive to kill at least 50 people and injure over 400 people, here is what we know so far, courtesy of the Telegraph and other public data sources.
The gunman behind this morning's Las Vegas shooting, is believed to be a grandfather who lived in a remote desert home in Mestique, Nevada, reports Telegraph's Leon Watson. Stephen Paddock, 64, was named by police as the perpetrator who left more than 50 dead. He was killed when officers blasted their way into his hotel room. Las Vegas police said they had located "numerous firearms within the room that he occupied." Las Vegas Sheriff Lombardo said officers had confronted Paddock on the 32nd floor across the street from the concert. "There were at least 8 guns and a number of long rifles in the alleged shooter’s room", per Las Vegas Police Undersheriff Kevin McMahill.
Police believe Paddock, a local resident, was a "lone wolf" attacker. Lombardo did not give further details, however, on Paddock's background or possible motivation. "We have no idea what his belief system was," Lombardo said. "Right now, we believe he was the sole aggressor."
Recordings of the attack suggested that Paddock used an automatic weapon. Paddock, who arrived at the hotel on Thursday, was found with more than 10 rifles, Lombardo said. Relatives said they knew Paddock owned guns, but believed they were legal.
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Before he opened fire late Sunday, gunman Stephen Paddock lived a quiet life for years in a small town outside Las Vegas, the WaPo writes.
A retired man, Paddock often visited Las Vegas to gamble and take in concerts, his relatives said. Public records show he was a licensed pilot, who owned two planes. And he had a hunting license from Alaska. For several years, he appeared to live in Mesquite, Tex. But property records show he chose to move to another town named Mesquite in Nevada, where he bought a home in 2013 and has been living there ever since.
Paddock's family said there was nothing in his past that would suggest violence. "We are in complete shock bewilderment and horror. We have absolutely no idea how in the world Steve did this. Absolutely no concept," said one relative, who spoke anonymously to avoid hurting other relatives. "There was nothing secret or strange about him."
Family members said that Paddock spent much of his retirement in recent years staying in hotels in Las Vegas and gambling. They said he listened to country music and went to concerts at Vegas hotels.
Las Vegas police said authorities were in the process of searching Paddock's home in Mesquite, Nev., on Monday morning. Quinn Averett, a spokesman for Mesquite Police in Nevada said Paddock was unknown to local authorities in the city where he owns a home 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas. Mesquite police have no recorded interactions with Paddock. Las Vegas police said this about Lombardo.
"We have no investigative information or background associated with this individual that is derogatory," Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said. "The only thing we can tell is he received a citation several years ago, that citation was handled as a matter of normal practice in the court system."
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Speaking to the Daily Mail, the brother of the Las Vegas shooter said that he was a normal guy who must have "snapped." Eric Paddock said that 'something happened' to make his brother Stephen kill at least 50 people and injure 200. Eric said that there was 'absolutely no indication he could do something like this' and said that Stephen had no political or religious affiliation.
He said: 'He was just a guy. Something happened, he snapped or something'. Speaking from his home in Orlando, Florida, Eric said: 'We know absolutely nothing, this is just, we are dumbfounded. We have absolutely no idea. Our condolences go to the victims and all their families'.
Eric said that he and Stephen, 64, lived on different coasts - Stephen's last address was in Mesquite, Nevada - and that they did not speak that often. He said that his mother was 'in shock' and struggling to cope with the news.
He said: "Our family is OK, we're sitting in here in our house hoping that everyone doesn't attack us."
'He's my brother, we don't have a very close relationship but we talk occasionally. There's no rhyme or reason here, it makes no sense'. He said: 'She has nothing to do with this, at least from my perspective. 'He was just a guy. Something happened, he snapped or something, he was just a guy.
'He has no political affiliation, no religious affiliation, as far as we know. This wasn't a terror attack'.
Separately, Eric Paddock told CBS News his brother was "not an avid gun guy at all". He added: "The fact that he had those kinds of weapons is just... where the hell did he get automatic weapons? He has no military background or anything like that.
"He's a guy who lived in a house in Mesquite and drove down and gambled in Las Vegas."
Las Vegas Shooter's Brother Eric Paddock Expresses Shock: He Was Just A Guy (Full Interview) | MSNBC
https://youtu.be/FMMy-0JeFtY?rel=0