Las Vegas shooting: Death toll rises to 58, 500+ hurt
WHITE HOUSE — (US)
US President Donald Trump speaking at the White House, called the shooting in Las Vegas as “an act of pure evil,” ordered flags flown at half-staff, and said he would travel to Las Vegas on Wednesday.
Las Vegas shooting: Death toll rises to 58 , 500+ hurt
“The F.B.I. and the Department of Homeland Security are working closely with local authorities to assist in the investigation,” Mr. Trump said, and he praised the performance of the Las Vegas police. “The speed with which they reacted was miraculous and prevented further loss of life.”
“We are joined together in sadness, shock and grief,” he said in a nationally televised address less than 12 hours after the shooting began. “It was an act of pure evil.”
Trump began the day with a tweet as the extent of the carnage unfolded.
“My warmest condolences and sympathies to the victims and families of the terrible Las Vegas shooting. God bless you!,” he said.
Donald J. Trump ✔@realDonaldTrump
My warmest condolences and sympathies to the victims and families of the terrible Las Vegas shooting. God bless you!
4:41 PM – Oct 2, 2017
“In moments of tragedy and horror, America comes together as one. And it always has,” Trump said. “We call upon the bonds that unite us, our faith, our family and our shared values. We call upon the bonds of citizenship, the ties of community and the comfort of our common humanity.
“Our unity cannot be shattered by evil, our bonds cannot be broken by violence and though we feel such great anger at the senseless murder of our fellow citizens, it is our love that defines us today and always will forever,” the president said.
“In times such as these I know we are searching for some kind of meaning in the chaos, some kind of light in the darkness. The answers do not come easy. But we can take solace knowing that even the darkest space can be brightened by a single light and even the most terrible despair can be illuminated by a single ray of hope.”
Obama offers condolences
Former president Barack Obama was also among those responding immediately to the tragedy.
“Michelle & I are praying for the victims in Las Vegas,” he posted on Twitter. “Our thoughts are with their families & everyone enduring another senseless tragedy.”
Death toll rises to 58 , 500+ hurt
Police in Las Vegas, Nevada say a man opened fire on a country music concert late Sunday, killing at least 58 people and wounding more than 515 others, in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police identified the shooter as 64-year-old white male Stephen Paddock from Mesquite, Nevada. The gunman attacked the crowd of over 22,000 from his hotel room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay casino, located across the street from the outdoor venue where videos showed concertgoers ducking for cover, screaming and running as the repeated shots rang out.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said SWAT officers breached the shooter’s hotel room and found him dead. He said it is believed that Paddock killed himself. Police also found at least 10 rifles in his room.