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Las Vegas Reacts To Horrific Mass Shooting

(AP Photo/John Locher)
(AP Photo/John Locher)

Drapes billow out of broken windows at the Mandalay Bay resort and casino Monday, Oct. 2, 2017, on the Las Vegas Strip following a deadly shooting at a music festival in Las Vegas. A gunman was found dead inside a hotel room.

At least 59 people are dead and more than 527 injured on the Las Vegas Strip, after a gunman open fired on a crowd at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival.

 

The shooter fired from the 32nd floor of Mandalay Bay onto the ground gathered at an events area down below. 

 

Las Vegas Metro Police have identified the shooter as 64-year-old Stephen Paddock of Mesquite. He was found inside the hotel room at Mandalay Bay. He had killed himself.

 

Metro says he had 23 guns in the hotel room and another 19 were found in his home in Mesquite.

 

During a news conference Monday morning about the shooting, Governor Brian Sandoval said he had visited some of the victims in the hospital.

 

"We're angry, we're grieving, we're confused, people are hurting," Sandoval said.

He called the shooting that killed 58 people and injured more than 500 others Sunday night a cowardly, despicable act.

 

At the same news conference, Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman said people were hit by shrapnel at the exits of the outdoor event center.

 

She also called the suspected shooter "a crazed lunatic" and praised the first responders. 

Las Vegas authorities have asked people to donate blood and people from around Southern Nevada answered that call. Now, United Blood Services is telling people to call for an appointment because they were so overwhelmed with people.

 

People can also donate through the American Red Cross by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or through redcrossblood.org

 

A line down the street at United Blood Services on West Charleston/Credit: Doug Puppel

Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak started a Go Fund Me page for the victims of the shooting and their families. As of 4 p.m., more than $1.7 million had been raised. 

 

Station Casinos, Siegel Suites, Southpoint and Boyd Gaming are all offering free rooms to family members here to be with loved ones injured in the shooting. 

 

Authorities are also asking that people not bring any more donations to either the Ronald McDonald House or the Las Vegas Convention Center, where counselors are available to victims' family because there are out of room.

 

Volunteers bring in donations to the Las Vegas Convention Center/Credit: Chris Smith

 

There are several vigils planned for tonight:

 

5:00 PM: City Hall, 495 S. Main Street

5:00 PM: Interfaith service at Guardian Angel Cathedral, 302 Cathedral Way

6:00 PM: Springs Church, 4161 N. Rancho Dr. #110

6:00 PM: Gateway Baptist Church, 1900 N. Gateway Rd.

7:00 PM: Canyon Ridge Christian Church, Lone Mountain and Jones.

7:00 PM: St. Viator Catholic Community, 2161 E. Flamingo Rd.

7:00 PM: Grace Presbyterian Church, 1515 W. Charleston

7:00 PM: UNLV, SU Courtyard

 

 

 

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Joe Schoenmann joined Nevada Public Radio in 2014. He works with a talented team of producers at State of Nevada who explore the casino industry, sports, politics, public health and everything in between.