Federal investigators and Las Vegas police told reporters on Wednesday that the gunman behind the worst mass shooting in American history planned to escape following his deadly attack, but turned the gun on himself when SWAT teams closed in, reports Fox News.
Police confirmed that Stephen Paddock, the 64-year-old former accountant behind the shooting, left a note at the scene but cautioned it was not a “suicide note,” saying they would release more information to the public in coming days.
“What we know is Stephen Paddock is a man who spent decades acquiring weapons and ammo and living a secret life, much of which will never be fully understood,” said Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo.
Investigators also confirmed that the gunman had rented a room at another Las Vegas hotel overlooking a music festival. Paddock stayed at the Ogden Hotel in late September, at the same time of the “Life is Beautiful” festival. It’s unclear if he used that trip as a “dry-run” for his Mandalay Bay assault.
While searching the premises, police found nearly 50 pounds of explosives in the suspects car at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, and over 1,600 rounds of ammunition. Investigators believe the explosives may have been a part of Paddock’s plan had he managed to escape.