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EXCLUSIVE
EYEWITNESS NEWS
Vegas Shooting by Skoonj
A
bit after 10 pm here last night, a man with a gun opened fire on a
three-day country music concert outside the Mandalay Bay hotel in Las
Vegas. Now that I've heard some sound recording, I can tell you
that
the shooter DID have a fully automatic weapon. So often you hear
witnesses of some crime say there was a machine gun, and it was just a
guy shooting a rifle rapidly. This one actually sounded like full
auto
to me.
The shooter was in a room on the 32nd floor of Mandalay Bay. The
police and hotel security responded to locate the shooter very
quickly. Just over five minutes after the start, it was
over. Police
used explosives to enter the room, then shot the shooter. Despite
the
fast response, more than 20 people were killed, and more than 100
wounded. The shooter is dead, and they think he was alone, but
they
are looking for an Asian looking woman (looks like a Filipina) who may
be a roommate of the shooter. Her name is Mary Lou Stanley.
Police
are looking for two cars
We (my wife Flora and me) were asleep at the time in our home in the NW
of town. Flora got up at 2 am to get ready for her job as a cook
at
Payard Restaurant in Caesars Palace. She leaves home at 3 am, and
begins work at 4 am. That's very close to Mandalay Bay. She
started
getting texts from co-workers about the shooting and how it impacts
entry to the property. One of her friends was stuck in a Caesars
parking lot, unable to get out of his car. Close to 3 am he was
allowed to walk to work. Interstate 15 was shut down in both
directions, as was Frank Sinatra Dr, so getting in was a problem.
At
about 3 am Flora got word that police had set up an entry line, so she
will be able to get in (she uses Flamingo rather than I-15). She
will
text me of the situation. Hotel security has been very helpful as
well. By the way, she is from the Philippines.
There is huge coverage of this event, not just with local and regional
coverage. There is massive international coverage because OJ
Simpson
was released from prison in Northern Nevada. He is expected to
take up
residence in the Summerlin area, which is in the northwest of the city,
fairly close to where we live. His place has a golf course, as
you
would imagine.
Sheriff Lombardo just gave a news conference with updates. There
are
at least 50 dead, 200 wounded. The believe they have the woman
they
were looking for, and have located both cars. When he spoke of
the
shooter, he gave his name (Steven Paddock, born 1953, spelling
approximate) and mentioned they were searching the room he's been
in.
He used the term "rifles", so there are more than one. They are
also
executing a search warrant at the shooter's residence. He's a
local.
Anyway, that's all I have now. I'm just sending this out because
most of you know we live in Las Vegas. Yes, we are safe.
UPDATE: My wife just asked: "How
long before someone demands ..." GUN CONTROL, I
interrupted. "Tom Brokaw, now," she replied.
Thanks Skoonj (Damian Housman) |
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