On the night of Sunday October 1st, a shooter open fired on attendees of a country music festival in Las Vegas. The gunman, perched on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, unleashed a storm of bullets killing 58 and wounding over 500. The mass shooting was the deadliest shooting in American History. Police rushed the hotel room of the assailant, who took his own life prior to police capture.

The Shooter: Stephen Paddock:

The shooter, identified as Stephen Paddock, is a 64 year old caucasian man from Mesquite, Nevada with no criminal record. Police recovered 16 rifles and one handgun from Paddock’s hotel room and an additional 18 firearms, explosives, and thousands of rounds of ammunition during a search of his home. Stephen Paddock was a successful accountant who, according to his brother Eric Paddock, “could afford anything he wanted”. Law enforcement officers are still trying to identify a motive in the attack, but Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo sounded optimistic when asked about a possible motive, responding: “It’s still a little bit soon.” Later in the press conference, Lombardo stated: “We have a couple of good leads, we are going to get there.”

The President Reacts:

President Donald Trump visited Las Vegas three days after the tragedy to express the sorrow and surprise that he and the rest of the nation are feeling. The President met with the loved ones of the victims of the massacre, telling them “You’re not alone.” Calling America “truly a nation in mourning,” the President called for Americans to stand together and help carry the pain of the families affected by the tragedy. In an address in Las Vegas, the President remarked: “We cannot be defined by the evil that threatens us or the violence that incites such terror,” he said. “We’re defined by our love, our caring, and our courage. In the darkest moments, what shines most brightly is the goodness that thrives in the hearts of our people.” Trump has recently taken on the position of chief as he traveled to Las Vegas after a visit to Puerto Rico to console those affected by Hurricane Maria.