Las Vegas shooter rented a condo overlooking another music festival a week before massacre
Stephen Paddock rented at least one condo in the Las Vegas residential high-rise the Ogden the weekend before he opened fire on the Route 91 Harvest Festival concert from a suite on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel Sunday night, Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo confirmed Wednesday evening. Paddock rented the room during the Life is Beautiful festival, across the street from the Ogden, via AirBnB, Lombardo said, though he added it was unclear yet if Paddock was engaged in "pre-surveillance" to prepare for his massacre. Police are reviewing video from the Ogden to ascertain Paddock's activities.
Paddock's stay at the Ogden during the Life is Beautiful festival — which ran Sept. 22-24 and featured Lorde and Chance the Rapper — was first reported by The Daily Beast, citing a "senior law enforcement source" who's "not directly involved in the investigation but has been briefed on its progress." That source speculated that perhaps Paddock meant to fire into that concert but lost his nerve or changed his mind.
Paddock checked into Mandalay Bay on Sept. 28, requesting an upper-room floor with a view of the Route 91 festival, a person who has seen hotel records told The Associated Press, though he wasn't able to move into that room until Saturday, Sept. 30. Paddock's suite, which typically costs $590 a night, was comped because he was a good customer, the source said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Paddock "had to have some help at some point," Lombard said. "Maybe he's a super-guy ... maybe he's a super yahoo, was working out all this on his own, but it would be hard for me to believe that." Paddock's brother Eric told reporters earlier Wednesday that "this is 100 percent Steve, did this by himself. People can't seem to cope with that either. But Steve is a — was a — highly intelligent, highly successful person." He was stumped on a motive, though. "I hope to hell they find, when they do the autopsy, that there's a tumor in his head, or something, because if they don't, we're all in trouble," Eric Paddock said.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Today's political cartoons - November 2, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - anti-fascism, early voter turnout, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 Grammys
Speed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published