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Las Vegas shooting: Two Canadians among victims

Las Vegas shooting: Two Canadians among victims

India Blooms News Service | @indiablooms | 03 Oct 2017, 11:41 pm
Las Vegas/Ottawa, Oct 3 (IBNS): Two Canadians have been identified as victims in the Las Vegas shooting, where a gunman opened fire on concert-goers opposite the Mandalay Bay hotel and resort on the Las Vegas Strip on Sunday night, killing at least 59 people and injuring over 500 others, media reports said.

Jordan Mclldoon (23), who was a Vancouver resident, has been identified as one of the two Canadian victims.

Jordan, who would have turned 24 on Friday, was in Vegas with his girlfriend since last Thursday, the victim's grandfather said.

Bob McIldoon, the victim's grandfather, told 680 News: "It’s a terrible thing, terrible for everyone."

Apart from Jordan, an Alberta woman was also killed.

Jessica Klymchuk, a single mother of four, died in the attack during her visit to Vegas with her fiance. She was from Grande Prairie area of Alberta in Canada.

According to a latest report, at least 42 guns and several loaded high capacity magazines were recovered from the suspected Las Vegas shooter's hotel room and residence.

According to Las Vegas Police Department Assistant Sheriff Todd R. Fasulo, 23 guns and loaded magazines were found in the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino room, where the suspected shooter Stephen Paddock stayed and fired randomly into people.

Another 19 guns were found in his Mesquite, Nevada home.

Police said that among his armoury were some high powered guns, capable of penetrating the protective gears.

Law enforcement officers also added that the suspect may have committed suicide following the attack.

According to reports, the  suspect  has been identified as Stephen Paddock.

Paddock, 64, is from Mesquite, about 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas and had been known to local law enforcement.

The shooting is not believed to be connected to terrorism, NBC News has reported.

“Right now we believe it’s a solo act, a lone wolf attacker,” Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Sheriff Joe Lombardo said.

“We are pretty confident there is no longer a threat.”

Authorities said the gunman appeared to have begun firing at 10:08 p.m. local time  from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel toward the concert venue across the street.

The Los Anegeles Times quoted the Sheriff as saying that police are seeking to interview a woman, identified as Marilou Danley, who is described as the suspect's "companion."

She was described as an Asian woman, about 4’11” in height.

“We have not located her at this time, and we are interested in talking to her for a follow-up,” Lombardo said.

Two of the dead are said to be a  pair of off-duty police officers who were attending the concert, Lombardo said.

Video posted on social media showed the open-air concert fully underway when bursts of automatic gunfire rang out.

Dozens of concertgoers dropped to the ground, screaming, while others ran for safety.

The shooting went on for about more than 30 seconds before the music stopped, and another burst was heard later.

The attack came during the last performances on the final night of the  three-day country music festival on an 15-acre lot across Las Vegas  Boulevard from Mandalay Bay.

Following the deadly  incident, all planes were temporarily grounded at the Las Vegas airport. However, flights resumed after some time.

Parts of I-15 near the Strip were also shut down, and hotel guests across the strip were being ordered to shelter in place.

The freeway reopened later, but offramps near the strip remained closed through much of the night.

Condemning the incident, US President Donald J. Trump tweeted: "My warmest condolences and sympathies to the victims and families of the terrible Las Vegas shooting. God bless you!"

(Reporting by Souvik Ghosh)

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