[Gunluvver2]

Originally Posted by MediocreButArrogant

Audio from the cell phone videos playing on CNN make it clear that it was fully automatic fire. Sounded like more than 30 rounds in each burst, sounded like three bursts of 50 rounds each.

Weapons that can fire like this were most likely illegally obtained (stolen from military or law enforcement). The National Firearms Act of 1986 basically froze the supply of legally possessable fully automatic weapons at that moment in time, so they are extremely valuable now (sell for tens of thousands of dollars), and only in the hands of collectors. In the past, law enforcement often received surplus full-auto M16s from the government, and they're always getting stolen

I listened to the audio and reached the same conclusion: It not only sounded like a fully automatic weapon but most probably from a ,223 and not a bigger .30 caliber round or the AK/47. I am not very knowledgeable about military weapons so I may be wrong. Just an educated guess.

Another W.A.G: It was an act of terrorism. The question is by who? Lone Wolf? Or an organized effort? More to come?

I don't know how many assault weapons our government loses each year. It is probably a bigger number than what is reported. FAST AND FURIOUS weapons involved maybe? We'll never know if so.

[Merrily Gather]

Originally Posted by RMESMH

I just heard on the radio that his name is Steven (perhaps spelled Stephen), Paddock.

Yep. He's 64 years old. Apparently, he was shooting in the rooms up at Mandalay Bay too. So it sounds like it was more than one room he was in up there. One couple interviewed were in the rooms up there and they said they counted and heard he reloaded or shot 15 different rounds. He'd shoot. Reload in a second. Shoot some more. Reload just as quick. Ect.

[yellowsnow]

Originally Posted by Merry Lee Gather

Yep. He's 64 years old. Apparently, he was shooting in the rooms up at Mandalay Bay too. So it sounds like it was more than one room he was in up there. One couple interviewed were in the rooms up there and they said they counted and heard he reloaded or shot 15 different rounds. He'd shoot. Reload in a second. Shoot some more. Reload just as quick. Ect.

I heard that name too but not from official sources.

[Merrily Gather]

Originally Posted by Gunluvver2

I listened to the audio and reached the same conclusion: It not only sounded like a fully automatic weapon but most probably from a ,223 and not a bigger .30 caliber round or the AK/47. I am not very knowledgeable about military weapons so I may be wrong. Just an educated guess.

Another W.A.G: It was an act of terrorism. The question is by who? Lone Wolf? Or an organized effort? More to come?

I don't know how many assault weapons our government loses each year. It is probably a bigger number than what is reported. FAST AND FURIOUS weapons involved maybe? We'll never know if so.

Well, Las Vegas has known for awhile it's been a target in the ISIS video twice. One was as recently as this year as sort of a reminder of the "Call to Action." This guy sounds like a suicidal and homicidal lone wolf. He had to plan the trajectory and high-powered weapon so the 32nd floor was important. That came from someone in the Secretary of Defense Department on CBS. They talked about briefing the President on the situation. Trump has a tower there too in Las Vegas. Mandalay Bay with its matching golden mirrors always reminded me of it.

[Merrily Gather]

Originally Posted by yellowsnow

I heard that name too but not from official sources.

They announced it on CBS.

[RosieSD]

Las Vegas Sheriff news report at 3:37 a.m. local time (Pacific Time)

More than 50 dead (God rest their souls). At least one policeman, an off duty cop at the concert, died. Over 200 injured.

Number for families to call if you are looking for information about family and friends who were at the event: 1-866-535-5654

Sheriff confirmed the killer was 64 year old Stephen Paddock (white, born 1953). Had numerous firearms within the hotel room. He is dead. (Other reports have said he lived in Mesquite, NV). They are searching his home.

They've found the woman of interest.

The Sheriff said it is too early to provide a motive.

[Gunluvver2]

At 5;38 AM CST 50 DEAD now reported on KFAB out of Omaha.

[RosieSD]

It's way too early to speculate on the killer's reasons for doing this. I think that would be counter-productive to do that at this time.

Simply put: no one knows why he did what he did at this point.

[yellowsnow]

Someone had just sent me a link where you can listen to dispatch calls and I just happened to be checking it out for the first time when the shooting happened. People did panic and there were false reports of shots fired at several other casinos. There was a gunshot victim in the lobby of New York New York and I have no idea if it was related. They were loading up victims in private vehicles to take them to the hospital. At one point it was reported that citizens were attempting to steal police cars to flee the scene.

The first responders on the scene were reporting multiple 419's(dead bodies).

Everything I heard was so calm and professional. It sounded like they were doing the best they could under terrible conditions.

My post when I opened up the thread was deliberately vague. I didn't want to add to the panic because it was not clear at that point what had actually happened. I was hoping to keep people away from the area.

I think they have opened up the Thomas and Mack Center for evacuees that can't get back in their rooms. And they are asking for blood donors. I heard the blood bank is in the process of being staffed right now to open early.

[RMESMH]

Originally Posted by Gunluvver2

At 5;38 AM CST 50 DEAD now reported on KFAB out of Omaha.

I just heard the same over the radio, with the same injury report that RosieSD heard. The hosts reporting thinks that the check in process re such hotels will change, and that concerts will no longer be sited opposite high rise hotels.