A shooting in Las Vegas has become the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S.
More than 57 people were killed and about 400 people injured when a gunman open-fired at an outdoor concert festival near Mandalay Bay Casino.
The shooter, identified as Stephen Craig Paddock, rapid-fired in the crowd from a hotel room of the Mandalay Bay Resort. He checked in with an “excess of 10 rifles,” according to NBC News. Authorities think Paddock killed himself before they entered his room shortly before midnight.
All hospitals in the area are receiving patients, and many already have been discharged, said Danita Cohen, a spokesperson from University Medical Center, in an interview with ABC News.
Casey Andrews, music theater senior, is from Las Vegas and said he was shocked by the news.
“You see crazy things happen in the news all the time, but, when it happens in your hometown, it frustrates you,” he said. “Las Vegas is a place people like to escape, and it is my favorite place in the world. It is sad that this hate was brought to such a wonderful city.”
Jessica Vanek, music theater freshman, is also from Las Vegas. She said a few of her friends were directly affected.
“I was a performer back home so a lot of my friends were on lockdown because they had shows in casinos and stuff,” she said. “I watched a Facebook Live video from one of my friends telling her story because she was at the concert when it happened. It’s weird because you hear about this all the time but you never think it’s going to happen to you.”
Police said family and friends looking for their loved ones can call 1-866-535-5654.
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