Investigation into how Vegas gunman obtained weapons arsenal
23 guns found in shooter's hotel room, 19 more found at residence; William La Jeunesse reports from Los Angeles.
The Las Vegas hotel room used by the gunman who opened fire on a country music festival Sunday held 23 firearms, authorities said Tuesday.
Assistant Clark County Sheriff Todd Fasulo said officers found the firearms inside the Mandalay Bay room of Stephen Paddock, and an additional 19 firearms at his home in Mesquite, Nevada.
Paddock killed 59 and wounded more than 500.
Police found rifles, equipped with scopes, and at least two of the guns in the cache were modified to make them fully automatic, two U.S. officials told The Associated Press.
The shooting reignited the country’s gun debate.
“The crowd fled at the sound of gunshots. Imagine the deaths if the shooter had a silencer, which the NRA wants to make easier to get,” Hillary Clinton tweeted, adding: “Our grief isn't enough. We can and must put politics aside, stand up to the NRA, and work together to try to stop this from happening again.”
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders also pushed back when asked about Clinton’s statements at Monday’s briefing.
“I think before we start trying to talk about the preventions of what took place last night, we need to know more facts, and right now we’re simply not at that point,” Sanders said. “It is very easy for Mrs. Clinton to criticize and to come out, but I think we need to remember the only person with blood on their hands is that of the shooter, and this isn’t a time for us to go after individuals or organizations. I think we can have those policy conversations but today is not that day.”
On Sunday night, Paddock shot down at the packed Route 91 Harvest Festival from the 32nd floor of the hotel, where he had been staying since Sept. 28. Officials said he booked one suite, with two rooms that had windows facing different directions.
Neighbors in Reno — where he had a home, in addition to a property in Mesquite — described Paddock as “extremely standoffish,” The Washington Post reported. One neighbor told the paper that Paddock occasionally revealed a refrigerator-sized safe when he opened his garage door, but otherwise kept the blinds drawn.
In addition to the firearms, investigators said they found explosives and several thousand rounds of ammunition at the gunman's Mesquite home.
Fasulo stressed that investigators believe Paddock was the sole shooter.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
True Crime
The hottest stories ripped from the headlines, from crime to courts, legal and scandal.
By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.
