The Route 91 country music festival Sunday night was the scene of mass shooting that police say left as many as 50 people dead and 200 injured.
Speaking outside of Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department headquarters, Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said the situation began at 10:08 p.m. with shots fired from the direction of Mandalay Bay at the south end of the famous Las Vegas Strip. Responding officers encountered an active shooter on the 32nd floor of the casino resort and killed the suspect.
“Currently, he has been identified, he is a local resident,” said Lombardo, declining to name the man. Authorities are actively seeking the man’s traveling companion, identified as Mary Lou Danley, described as Asian approximately 4-foot-11.
“We have not located her at this time and we are interested in talking to her for follow-up,” Lombardo said.
In addition, authorities are seeking two vehicles registered to the suspect killed at Mandalay Bay, a Chrysler Pacifica Touring, Nevada license plate 79D 401 and a Hyundai Tucson, Nevada license plate 114 B40.
Lombardo explained at first there were “in excess” of 20 people dead and 100 injured but cautioned that reports of multiple shooters or explosives are false and there is no longer an active threat. These figures were later adjusted by the department to over 50 killed and 200 injured.
Two police officers, one in critical condition, are in area hospitals while another two officers who were off-duty attending the concert “that have expired.”
Las Vegas Fire Rescue is reporting they have multiple units responding to the incident as does Clark County Fire.
The Red Cross will be setting up an aid site at LVMPD headquarters to call about missing relatives. The open line is 866-535-5654.
Mandalay Bay, who had put their hotels in the area on lockdown during the incident, posted on social media that “Our thoughts & prayers are with the victims of last night’s tragic events. We’re grateful for the immediate actions of our first responders.”
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman said, ”Pray for Las Vegas. Thank you to all our first responders out there now.”
This is a developing story.
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