Las Vegas shooter bought at least one gun from Arizona dealer
Oct 2, 2017, 4:25 PM | Updated: Oct 3, 2017, 11:42 am
Flowers are placed near the scene of a mass shooting Monday, Oct. 2, 2017, that occurred at a music festival near the Mandalay Bay resort and casino on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas on Sunday. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
PHOENIX — The man suspected of opening fire on a crowd at a Las Vegas country music festival Sunday bought at least one of his weapons in Arizona, officials said.
“We are aware of one gun dealer that has come forward to say that he had sold weapons to the suspect, but we are aware of some other individuals that are engaged in those transactions,” Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo told the media.
“Not aware (of one) in Las Vegas. We’re aware of Arizona so far, but we’re working on further (leads).”
The ATF said it would not comment on any investigative leads it was pursuing in Arizona.
At least sixteen guns were found in Stephen Paddock’s hotel room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino.
Paddock opened fire on the Route 91 Harvest Festival across the street from the room’s windows, killing more than 50 people. More than 500 were injured.
Lombardo said his agency believed the weapons Paddock used had been modified, but he did not have more details.
A retired FBI agent told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News that, if Paddock used an automatic weapon in the shooting, it would prove an interesting turn in the investigation.
“They’ll look at how he got the guns,” Rich Frankel said. “Were they legally bought? They’re going to go through this guy’s entire life to determine how this happened. … if people knew about this and just did not come forward.”
The shooter’s brother, Eric Paddock, told the Orlando Sentinel he was “completely dumbfounded” and that the family had “no idea why he did this.”
Officers found an additional 18 guns in Paddock’s Mesquite, Nevada home. The town lies about 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas and sits on the Nevada-Arizona state line.
Investigators also found explosives, thousands of rounds of ammunition and several electronic devices.
Lombardo said police also found a number of suitcases in the hotel room and found ammonium nitrate — a highly explosive fertilizer — in Paddock’s car.
Guns and Guitars, Inc., a gun dealership in Mesquite, issued a statement on Monday that confirmed Paddock bought firearms from the store.
“Mr. Paddock was a customer and purchased firearms from our store; however, all necessary background checks and procedures were followed, as required by local, state and federal law,” part of the statement read. “He never gave any indication or reason to believe he was unstable or unfit at any time.”
A GoFundMe for the victims raised more than $1 million within hours.
