The world awoke Monday morning to tragic news of the deadliest mass shooting ever to take place in the modern history of the United States. Late Sunday night, the now-identified 64-year-old Stephen Paddock killed at least 58 people by firing at Route 91 festival concertgoers from an upper-level room at the Mandalay Bay Hotel on the Las Vegas strip. At least 50 people have been confirmed dead with over 515 injured so far, and that number will likely only climb as more information becomes available.
Authorities are still attempting to ascertain a motive for the shooting, and the answer may lie in a woman named Marilou Danley, who is said to be Paddock’s “traveling companion.” But right now, a shocked country is just trying to come to terms with the awful tragedy and grapple with the fact that mass shooting after mass shooting continues to happen.
Early Monday morning, President Trump casually tweeted of the shooting, “My warmest condolences and sympathies to the victims and families of the terrible Las Vegas shooting. God bless you!” Others on Twitter are expressing sobering thoughts as they try to wrap our heads yet another massacre and why, somehow, this can’t be prevented.
Michelle & I are praying for the victims in Las Vegas. Our thoughts are with their families & everyone enduring another senseless tragedy.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) October 2, 2017
Horrified and heartbroken by the awful tragedy in #LasVegas last night. Praying for those lost, wounded & waiting for news from loved ones.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) October 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/davidehrlich/status/914826771337564160
Uhhhhh in what universe is a guy coming into a public venue and murdering 50 strangers NOT terrorism https://t.co/Cg1vljiRUs
— Ej Dickson (@ejdickson) October 2, 2017
Amazing to watch everyone trying to wrap their minds around the fact that a white man can be capable of violence
— Ej Dickson (@ejdickson) October 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/WorldofIsaac/status/914818821818593286
https://twitter.com/biettetimmons/status/914806146309001217
https://twitter.com/michaelianblack/status/914803084748054528
I’m praying for all the victims, their families, and our first responders in the #LasVegas #MandalayBay shooting.
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) October 2, 2017
Pray for Vegas!! 🤦🏾♂️. What the hell is going on people!?!? My prayers sent to the heavens above for all the families 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/wDpwZ7g4Pz
— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 2, 2017
PM – The UK’s thoughts are with the victims and the emergency services responding to the appalling attack in Las Vegas.
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) October 2, 2017
A deeply sad day for the city of Las Vegas. London sends our condolences to the victims and their families.
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) October 2, 2017
406 have been taken to the hospital in Las Vegas. This is the work of one man.
— Amy Siskind 🏳️🌈 (@Amy_Siskind) October 2, 2017
What happened in Las Vegas is beyond what a tweet can express. My heart goes out to everyone hurt in this tragedy. I’ll help however I can.
— Mark (@markiplier) October 2, 2017
We will post updates to the story as details become available.