(Las Vegas, NV) — At least 58 people are dead and more than 500 are injured following the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. An armed man fired upon concert-goers at a country music festival last night from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay and Casino. A representative of the FBI says that so far, there is no connection between last night’s shooting in Las Vegas and international terrorism. Witnesses reported seeing muzzle flashes from upper floors of the hotel and the sound of automatic gunfire as concert-goers hit the ground and ran for cover in panic. Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo identified the lone gunman as 64-year-old Stephen Paddock, who they say killed himself following the massacre. The FBI was at another property this morning associated with Paddock and was ready to serve a search warrant.
Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, the closest trauma center to the Las Vegas strip, reports that they have treated 180 patients from the mass shooting late Sunday night, 14 of whom have died. Sunrise personnel have performed approximately 30 emergency surgeries. The hospital says it is currently notifying next of kin and working with Emergency Services personnel and Las Vegas Metro Police to provide information to families searching for loved ones. In a statement, Sunrise Hospital CEO Todd Sklamberg commended hospital staff and partners for their tremendous response to an unprecedented tragedy.
Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and her husband are urging legislators to act in order to stop massacres like the one that happened last night in Las Vegas. Speaking on Capitol Hill, Captain Mark Kelly told reporters last night’s attack is an example of a worst case scenario — high-power weaponry in the hands of a determined killer with a tactical advantage. Kelly said Americans shouldn’t accept rampant gun violence as simply the cost of living in America. Kelly called on Congress to stop legislation that will weaken gun laws and act to rein in the chaos. Giffords was at Kelly’s side as he spoke, but she didn’t speak herself. Giffords was shot in the head during an attempted assassination in Tucson in 2011 that left six people dead.
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