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| Las Vegas shooting suspect's girlfriend is a 'person of interest' – live updates | Las Vegas shooting suspect's girlfriend is a 'person of interest' – live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 11.41pm BST | |
| 23:41 | |
| Suspect Stephen Paddock used to berate his girlfriend at a local Starbucks, employees told the Los Angeles Times: | |
| At his local Starbucks, Las Vegas shooter remembered for berating his girlfriend https://t.co/WjxjAMIDdY pic.twitter.com/T9mZPEKuqa | |
| 11.28pm BST | |
| 23:28 | |
| Ashifa Kassam | |
| Canadian media has confirmed the identity of a fourth Canadian killed in the Las Vegas attack, Ashifa Kassam reports from Toronto. | |
| Tara Roe Smith, 34, and her husband were at the festival in Las Vegas as part of a weekend getaway. The mother of two young children, who was originally from Manitoba but lived in a small community near Calgary, became separated from her husband and friends when the gunman opened fire. | |
| As news of the shooting broke, friends and family of Smith pleaded for assistance in locating Smith on social media. “My cousin and his wife Tara Smith were at the concert. Please pray that’s she is safe. They were split up during the commotion,” her cousin, Christa Ehman, posted on Facebook. | |
| 11.13pm BST | 11.13pm BST |
| 23:13 | 23:13 |
| White House on gun control: no new laws needed | White House on gun control: no new laws needed |
| The White House’s message on gun policy following the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history is that “new laws won’t stop a mad man” and that the problem isn’t “too few gun laws”. According to a copy of official talking points the White House distributed to Trump allies, obtained by NBC News, the administration has is pushing a strong defense of the Second Amendment: | The White House’s message on gun policy following the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history is that “new laws won’t stop a mad man” and that the problem isn’t “too few gun laws”. According to a copy of official talking points the White House distributed to Trump allies, obtained by NBC News, the administration has is pushing a strong defense of the Second Amendment: |
| We welcome a reasoned and well-informed debate on public safety and our constitutional freedoms, but we reject the false choice that we can’t have both. And when it comes to gun control, let’s be clear: new laws won’t stop a mad man committed to harming innocent people. They will curtail the freedoms of law abiding citizens... | We welcome a reasoned and well-informed debate on public safety and our constitutional freedoms, but we reject the false choice that we can’t have both. And when it comes to gun control, let’s be clear: new laws won’t stop a mad man committed to harming innocent people. They will curtail the freedoms of law abiding citizens... |
| We shouldn’t rush toward compromising our freedoms before we have all the facts. | We shouldn’t rush toward compromising our freedoms before we have all the facts. |
| The full text is here: | The full text is here: |
| BREAKING: NBC News has obtained White House talking points distributed to Trump administration allies following Las Vegas shooting: pic.twitter.com/3HjLCfjvEN | BREAKING: NBC News has obtained White House talking points distributed to Trump administration allies following Las Vegas shooting: pic.twitter.com/3HjLCfjvEN |
| Gun control advocates, however, have argued that there are clear policies and restrictions that could have saved lives. From Guardian senior reporter Lois Beckett: | Gun control advocates, however, have argued that there are clear policies and restrictions that could have saved lives. From Guardian senior reporter Lois Beckett: |
| Gun control advocates are calling for a ban on “bump stocks”, the largely unregulated novelty devices which Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock may have used to convert a semi-automatic rifle into a weapon that mimics the continuous fire of a fully automatic weapon. | Gun control advocates are calling for a ban on “bump stocks”, the largely unregulated novelty devices which Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock may have used to convert a semi-automatic rifle into a weapon that mimics the continuous fire of a fully automatic weapon. |
| At least two bump stocks were recovered in Paddock’s hotel room, the Associated Press reported on Monday night, citing law enforcement sources. It is not yet clear whether they were used in his attack. | At least two bump stocks were recovered in Paddock’s hotel room, the Associated Press reported on Monday night, citing law enforcement sources. It is not yet clear whether they were used in his attack. |
| Bump stocks attach to semi-automatic weapons and harness the recoil of the gun to allow a shooter to fire much faster than they could do if they repeatedly pulled the trigger – as the rifle recoils, the trigger bumps forward into the shooter’s finger to speed up the rate of fire. | Bump stocks attach to semi-automatic weapons and harness the recoil of the gun to allow a shooter to fire much faster than they could do if they repeatedly pulled the trigger – as the rifle recoils, the trigger bumps forward into the shooter’s finger to speed up the rate of fire. |
| As one company that sells the devices, Bump Fire Systems, put it on its website, “Did you know that you can do simulated full-auto firing and it is absolutely legal?” It listed the price of one stock at $99.99. | As one company that sells the devices, Bump Fire Systems, put it on its website, “Did you know that you can do simulated full-auto firing and it is absolutely legal?” It listed the price of one stock at $99.99. |
| More on the policy debate here: | More on the policy debate here: |
| 10.54pm BST | 10.54pm BST |
| 22:54 | 22:54 |
| Michelle Obama on gun violence | Michelle Obama on gun violence |
| Former first lady Michelle Obama offered her condolences to the victims on Tuesday, speaking with television producer Shonda Rhimes at the Pennsylvania Conference for Women in Philadelphia. From CBS News: | Former first lady Michelle Obama offered her condolences to the victims on Tuesday, speaking with television producer Shonda Rhimes at the Pennsylvania Conference for Women in Philadelphia. From CBS News: |
| Obama lamented that offering comfort to victims of gun violence has become “too much” of part of the job of being president, and expressed her condolences to the victims and families of the deadly Las Vegas shooting... | Obama lamented that offering comfort to victims of gun violence has become “too much” of part of the job of being president, and expressed her condolences to the victims and families of the deadly Las Vegas shooting... |
| She said that much of the role as commander-in-chief is “overseeing that kind of loss and really not having a solution to offer families when you comfort them”. And there is a dearth of solutions to the increasing occurrence of gun violence violence because the country is “not at that point yet”, she suggested. | She said that much of the role as commander-in-chief is “overseeing that kind of loss and really not having a solution to offer families when you comfort them”. And there is a dearth of solutions to the increasing occurrence of gun violence violence because the country is “not at that point yet”, she suggested. |
| Describing the challenges of being in the White House during tragedies, she added, “That’s the kind of stuff that you’re dealing with on a day-to-day basis, and you open the newspaper, and every thing in it is your husband’s responsibility and indirectly, yours.” | Describing the challenges of being in the White House during tragedies, she added, “That’s the kind of stuff that you’re dealing with on a day-to-day basis, and you open the newspaper, and every thing in it is your husband’s responsibility and indirectly, yours.” |
| Michelle Obama talks White House "standard of ethics" in conversation with Shonda Rhimes https://t.co/iSoAOEpEn7 pic.twitter.com/5EeubzfL2Y | Michelle Obama talks White House "standard of ethics" in conversation with Shonda Rhimes https://t.co/iSoAOEpEn7 pic.twitter.com/5EeubzfL2Y |
| 10.38pm BST | 10.38pm BST |
| 22:38 | 22:38 |
| The president is leaving Puerto Rico now and says he is preparing to visit Las Vegas Wednesday to pay his respects: | The president is leaving Puerto Rico now and says he is preparing to visit Las Vegas Wednesday to pay his respects: |
| Leaving Puerto Rico now for D.C. Will be in Las Vegas early tomorrow to pay my respects. Everyone is in my thoughts and prayers. https://t.co/dBvZUIUfr0 | Leaving Puerto Rico now for D.C. Will be in Las Vegas early tomorrow to pay my respects. Everyone is in my thoughts and prayers. https://t.co/dBvZUIUfr0 |
| 10.31pm BST | 10.31pm BST |
| 22:31 | 22:31 |
| Profiles of victims | Profiles of victims |
| Sam Levin here, taking over our live coverage of the Las Vegas shooting, following the news that all but three of the 59 victims have been identified. Portraits of the lives lost are starting to emerge. Here are a few: | Sam Levin here, taking over our live coverage of the Las Vegas shooting, following the news that all but three of the 59 victims have been identified. Portraits of the lives lost are starting to emerge. Here are a few: |
| Lisa Romero-Muniz, a high school secretary from Gallup, New Mexico, was an “incredible loving and sincere friend, mentor and advocate for students”, the Gallup-McKinley County Public Schools interim superintendent, Mike Hyatt, said in a statement. | Lisa Romero-Muniz, a high school secretary from Gallup, New Mexico, was an “incredible loving and sincere friend, mentor and advocate for students”, the Gallup-McKinley County Public Schools interim superintendent, Mike Hyatt, said in a statement. |
| “As a colleague, she was also outgoing, kind and considerate of all those she worked with,” he said. | “As a colleague, she was also outgoing, kind and considerate of all those she worked with,” he said. |
| A wife, mother, and grandmother, Romero-Muniz had been in Las Vegas with her husband to see the country music singer Jason Aldean for their wedding anniversary. | A wife, mother, and grandmother, Romero-Muniz had been in Las Vegas with her husband to see the country music singer Jason Aldean for their wedding anniversary. |
| Lisa Romero-Muniz, a high school secretary in Gallup, N.M. was in Vegas with her husband to celebrate their anniversary. #LoveToLasVegas pic.twitter.com/gvk4NzpBM9 | Lisa Romero-Muniz, a high school secretary in Gallup, N.M. was in Vegas with her husband to celebrate their anniversary. #LoveToLasVegas pic.twitter.com/gvk4NzpBM9 |
| Charleston Hartfield: An off-duty Las Vegas police officer and military veteran named Charleston Hartfield was identified by friends as a victim, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. | Charleston Hartfield: An off-duty Las Vegas police officer and military veteran named Charleston Hartfield was identified by friends as a victim, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. |
| “I don’t know a better man than Charles,” said Troy Rhett, who said he’d been friends with Hartfield for eight years. “They say it’s always the good ones we lose early. There’s no truer statement than that with Charles.” | “I don’t know a better man than Charles,” said Troy Rhett, who said he’d been friends with Hartfield for eight years. “They say it’s always the good ones we lose early. There’s no truer statement than that with Charles.” |
| Charleston Hartfield was killed in the attack on the #route91harvest festival. The 34 y/o was a SFC in the NV Army National Guard, a LVPD officer and an author... here's his book, Memoirs of a Public Servant: https://t.co/pdud7rQujr pic.twitter.com/VTgg4grwbr | Charleston Hartfield was killed in the attack on the #route91harvest festival. The 34 y/o was a SFC in the NV Army National Guard, a LVPD officer and an author... here's his book, Memoirs of a Public Servant: https://t.co/pdud7rQujr pic.twitter.com/VTgg4grwbr |
| Sonny Melton, 29, who lived in Big Sandy, Tennessee, and worked at a nearby hospital, was the first victim publicly identified. Family members confirmed to the news station WSMV that he was killed in the gunfire. | Sonny Melton, 29, who lived in Big Sandy, Tennessee, and worked at a nearby hospital, was the first victim publicly identified. Family members confirmed to the news station WSMV that he was killed in the gunfire. |
| His wife, Heather Melton, told WZTV that her husband had shielded her from bullets on the ground when the shooting began. “He saved my life and lost his,” she said. | His wife, Heather Melton, told WZTV that her husband had shielded her from bullets on the ground when the shooting began. “He saved my life and lost his,” she said. |
| A friend of the couple told the Paris (Tennessee) Post-Intelligencer that the two had gotten married about a year ago. | A friend of the couple told the Paris (Tennessee) Post-Intelligencer that the two had gotten married about a year ago. |
| JUST IN: Sonny Melton, 29, of Tenn., was killed in the Las Vegas attack, his wife tells @WSMV. https://t.co/RqiwIIzIR8 pic.twitter.com/p6JDNiVAeF | JUST IN: Sonny Melton, 29, of Tenn., was killed in the Las Vegas attack, his wife tells @WSMV. https://t.co/RqiwIIzIR8 pic.twitter.com/p6JDNiVAeF |
| Read the Guardian’s full account of the victims from reporter Jamiles Lartey: | Read the Guardian’s full account of the victims from reporter Jamiles Lartey: |
| 10.13pm BST | 10.13pm BST |
| 22:13 | 22:13 |
| Las Vegas update | Las Vegas update |
| The latest from Las Vegas sheriff Joe Lombardo’s afternoon press conference on Sunday’s mass shooting, which killed 59 people and injured more than 500 others. | The latest from Las Vegas sheriff Joe Lombardo’s afternoon press conference on Sunday’s mass shooting, which killed 59 people and injured more than 500 others. |
| Marilou Danley, the suspect’s girlfriend, is a “person of interest” who is cooperating with police but outside the country. Danley went abroad on 25 September, before the gunman, Stephen Paddock, booked into the Mandalay Bay on the 28th. She is in the Philippines, Lombardo said. | Marilou Danley, the suspect’s girlfriend, is a “person of interest” who is cooperating with police but outside the country. Danley went abroad on 25 September, before the gunman, Stephen Paddock, booked into the Mandalay Bay on the 28th. She is in the Philippines, Lombardo said. |
| The gunman modified some of his weapons and set up a camera in a roomservice cart to watch the hallway outside his room. Lombardo said a “bump stop” modification appears to have been used on some of the guns. | The gunman modified some of his weapons and set up a camera in a roomservice cart to watch the hallway outside his room. Lombardo said a “bump stop” modification appears to have been used on some of the guns. |
| Police have identified all but three of the 59 people killed. Families searching for missing relatives can go to or call the Las Vegas Convention Center, which is serving as a hub for emergency efforts. | Police have identified all but three of the 59 people killed. Families searching for missing relatives can go to or call the Las Vegas Convention Center, which is serving as a hub for emergency efforts. |
| Investigators recovered “numerous electronic items, additional five handguns and two shotguns and a plethora of ammunition” at a Reno property owned by Paddock. They had previously found 23 guns in the shooter’s hotel room in the Mandalay Bay resort, 19 at his home in Mesquite, Nevada. Police also have 67 body cameras and hours of surveillance and phone footage to parse. | Investigators recovered “numerous electronic items, additional five handguns and two shotguns and a plethora of ammunition” at a Reno property owned by Paddock. They had previously found 23 guns in the shooter’s hotel room in the Mandalay Bay resort, 19 at his home in Mesquite, Nevada. Police also have 67 body cameras and hours of surveillance and phone footage to parse. |
| A hotel security guard briefly engaged the gunman while police were searching for his location, Lombardo said. Then police and Swat teams converged on the room, around which time Paddock is believed to have killed himself. | A hotel security guard briefly engaged the gunman while police were searching for his location, Lombardo said. Then police and Swat teams converged on the room, around which time Paddock is believed to have killed himself. |
| Anonymous law enforcement officials told several outlets that Paddock wired $100,000 to the Philippines before the shooting. NBC, CNN and the New York Times reported the detail, but none of the unnamed officials identified the intended recipient or purpose behind the transfer. | Anonymous law enforcement officials told several outlets that Paddock wired $100,000 to the Philippines before the shooting. NBC, CNN and the New York Times reported the detail, but none of the unnamed officials identified the intended recipient or purpose behind the transfer. |
| The gunman’s motive remains unknown. | The gunman’s motive remains unknown. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 10.22pm BST | at 10.22pm BST |
| 9.57pm BST | 9.57pm BST |
| 21:57 | 21:57 |
| The sheriff says police are looking at video on more than 67 body cameras, and even more footage from surveillance cameras, phones and other sources. | The sheriff says police are looking at video on more than 67 body cameras, and even more footage from surveillance cameras, phones and other sources. |
| He shies away from other details of the investigation. Going through all the video will take an enormous amount of time, he says, in part because of chain-of-custody issues and the sheer hours of footage. | He shies away from other details of the investigation. Going through all the video will take an enormous amount of time, he says, in part because of chain-of-custody issues and the sheer hours of footage. |
| A reporter asks about training and the police response to the shooter. He says patrol officers assessed the situation, and that a hotel security guard, due to “the unfortunate actions” of the gunman, briefly engaged him. After that point police, security, and the Swat team coordinated to descend on the room. | A reporter asks about training and the police response to the shooter. He says patrol officers assessed the situation, and that a hotel security guard, due to “the unfortunate actions” of the gunman, briefly engaged him. After that point police, security, and the Swat team coordinated to descend on the room. |
| He’s asked again about the gunman’s girlfriend. “I’m comfortable saying she’s located in the Philippines,” is all Lombardo will divulge. | He’s asked again about the gunman’s girlfriend. “I’m comfortable saying she’s located in the Philippines,” is all Lombardo will divulge. |
| He stops taking questions shortly thereafter. | He stops taking questions shortly thereafter. |
| 9.47pm BST | 9.47pm BST |
| 21:47 | 21:47 |
| “This was obviously premeditated. The shooter evaluated everything he did, which is troublesome,” Lombardo says. | “This was obviously premeditated. The shooter evaluated everything he did, which is troublesome,” Lombardo says. |
| A reporter asks whether room service was provided to the gunman’s room over the course of his stay, from 28 October to 1 October. Lombardo says it was. | A reporter asks whether room service was provided to the gunman’s room over the course of his stay, from 28 October to 1 October. Lombardo says it was. |
| Lombardo praises emergency responders, from police to firefighters and medical personnel, at length. | Lombardo praises emergency responders, from police to firefighters and medical personnel, at length. |
| He says he prays that any citizen who might see something would tell police, “because we can’t see all things at all times.” | He says he prays that any citizen who might see something would tell police, “because we can’t see all things at all times.” |
| He urges people not to fear they might “bother the police”. “We ask you to bother the police.” | He urges people not to fear they might “bother the police”. “We ask you to bother the police.” |
| “What went right is we saved hundreds of lives,” he says, saying that he’s horrified by what could have happened “with this guy having an ability with those weaponry, the carnage that could occur”. | “What went right is we saved hundreds of lives,” he says, saying that he’s horrified by what could have happened “with this guy having an ability with those weaponry, the carnage that could occur”. |
| “A lot more was prevented with police action in short time and private security action to save some lives” | “A lot more was prevented with police action in short time and private security action to save some lives” |
| 9.42pm BST | 9.42pm BST |
| 21:42 | 21:42 |
| Sheriff: gunman set up camera | Sheriff: gunman set up camera |
| Lombardo says the gunman had set up a camera in a room service cart outside his Mandalay Bay hotel room. | Lombardo says the gunman had set up a camera in a room service cart outside his Mandalay Bay hotel room. |
| He thinks that he did so in an attempt to monitor anyone who might be approaching. | He thinks that he did so in an attempt to monitor anyone who might be approaching. |
| Fielding a question about the length of the shooting, Lombardo says that police’s best estimate is approximately nine minutes of sustained gunfire. | Fielding a question about the length of the shooting, Lombardo says that police’s best estimate is approximately nine minutes of sustained gunfire. |
| The sheriff details more of the police response, saying it was “hard to pinpoint the room from the outside”. | The sheriff details more of the police response, saying it was “hard to pinpoint the room from the outside”. |
| Police teams split up, he said, and “moved over to the Mandalay Bay in order to locate and engage, but that was in conjunction with the Mandalay Bay security.” | Police teams split up, he said, and “moved over to the Mandalay Bay in order to locate and engage, but that was in conjunction with the Mandalay Bay security.” |
| One member of hotel security at first engaged with the gunman, then “backed off” and coordinated with police until the Swat team arrived. | One member of hotel security at first engaged with the gunman, then “backed off” and coordinated with police until the Swat team arrived. |
| Lombardo praises the “fantastic” work of the hotel security, and citizens who worked to help each other in the chaos. “I don’t want anybody assuming that they would be unsafe by staying at one of our hotels.” | Lombardo praises the “fantastic” work of the hotel security, and citizens who worked to help each other in the chaos. “I don’t want anybody assuming that they would be unsafe by staying at one of our hotels.” |
| A reporter asks about police training, and whether the sheriff is concerned. | A reporter asks about police training, and whether the sheriff is concerned. |
| “Of course I’m concerned. The world has changed. Who would have ever imagined this situation. I couldn’t have imagined it. For this individual to take it upon himself to create this chaos and harm is unbelievable.” | “Of course I’m concerned. The world has changed. Who would have ever imagined this situation. I couldn’t have imagined it. For this individual to take it upon himself to create this chaos and harm is unbelievable.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 10.02pm BST | at 10.02pm BST |
| 9.36pm BST | 9.36pm BST |
| 21:36 | 21:36 |
| Sheriff Lombardo says police have completed the investigation at the Reno property. | Sheriff Lombardo says police have completed the investigation at the Reno property. |
| He says they recovered evidence there: “numerous electronic items, additional five handguns and two shotguns and a plethora of ammunition.” | He says they recovered evidence there: “numerous electronic items, additional five handguns and two shotguns and a plethora of ammunition.” |
| “We have served search warrants at three separate locations. the room at the Mandalay Bay, the Mesquite location and the Reno location.” | “We have served search warrants at three separate locations. the room at the Mandalay Bay, the Mesquite location and the Reno location.” |
| Someone asks what are the modifications on the weapons. Lombardo says Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms are working on that, but that he can say he’s aware of a modification called a “bump stop”, that can make up a semiautomatic to function more like an automatic weapon. | Someone asks what are the modifications on the weapons. Lombardo says Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms are working on that, but that he can say he’s aware of a modification called a “bump stop”, that can make up a semiautomatic to function more like an automatic weapon. |
| Asked about the gunman’s girlfriend, Marilou Danley, he says that he can’t provide details but that she is on communication with police and they anticipate working with her in the investigation. | Asked about the gunman’s girlfriend, Marilou Danley, he says that he can’t provide details but that she is on communication with police and they anticipate working with her in the investigation. |
| He does not say her current whereabouts: “all I know is the Philippines.” He categorizes her as “a person of interest”. | He does not say her current whereabouts: “all I know is the Philippines.” He categorizes her as “a person of interest”. |
| He again warns that he will not have many specifics to give out. “There is a lot of information I do know. Okay. But it’s an ongoing investigation. And when I say I do not know, I may know.” | He again warns that he will not have many specifics to give out. “There is a lot of information I do know. Okay. But it’s an ongoing investigation. And when I say I do not know, I may know.” |
| Asked about injuries, he says that he believes the count has decreased slightly because of a “double-count issue” at one of the hospitals. | Asked about injuries, he says that he believes the count has decreased slightly because of a “double-count issue” at one of the hospitals. |
| “We have trampled injuries, we have people trying to escape and injuries of their own device, we have gunshot wounds, so if you’re looking at total injuries,” he says, “it goes across the board.” | “We have trampled injuries, we have people trying to escape and injuries of their own device, we have gunshot wounds, so if you’re looking at total injuries,” he says, “it goes across the board.” |