Mass shooting in Las Vegas leaves 58 dead and over 500 injured

by Michael Brennan

Embed from Getty Images

Updated as of 10:01 p.m. EST, Wednesday October 4, 2017

Update: President Trump visited Las Vegas on October 4, offering condolences and dodging any discussion about gun violence in America. His somber speech came just one day after downplaying the damage in Puerto Rico caused by Hurricane Maria.

In the days following the shooting, gun control has become a hot topic in the country again. 

Original story: One man opened fire at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival late into the night October 1. To date, this is the deadliest shooting in American history. The perpetrator, 64-year old Steve Paddock, shot a semi-automatic machine gun from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel onto the festival, according to NBC News.

The Las Vegas Police Department is still searching for a possible motive for the shooting; he committed suicide before he could be arrested. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, but investigators have found no link to the terrorist organization, according to CNBC.

Twenty-three guns were found in Paddock’s hotel room and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Paddock had made 33 gun purchases in the past year. The guns in the hotel were believed to have been bought legally according to CNN.

Jason Aldean, the artist onstage at the time, has sent out thoughts and prayers for Las Vegas, and he said he is safe in an Instagram post.

President Trump gave his condolences this morning.