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| Hundreds ducked for cover amid heavy gunfire |
A gunman opened fire from the 32nd floor of the
Mandalay Bay Hotel toward an open-air music festival being held close by.
Police said a suspect identified as a local
resident, who was not named, had been shot and killed by officers.
They said they were looking for a companion
travelling with the suspect as a "person of interest".
Sheriff Joe Lombardo said police believed the
shooting was a "lone wolf" style attack, but confirmed they were trying
to locate an Asian female named as Marilou Danely.
Sheriff Lombardo said he was
unable to accurately say the number of dead and injured, but a local hospital
spokesperson said earlier that at least 14 people were in a critical condition.
There had been reports of other incidents at
different locations along the Las Vegas strip, but police said those reports
were false.
Witnesses reported that hundreds of shots were
fired.
Hundreds of people fled the scene and the sound
of what appeared to be prolonged automatic gunfire could be heard on videos
posted on social media.
Many hotels on the Las Vegas strip close to the
scene remain on police lockdown as they search for two vehicles in relation to
the attack.
Parts of Las Vegas Boulevard were shut as armed
officers arrived at the scene.
People have been sheltering in hotels,
restaurants and at Las Vegas McCarran airport.
Some flights were diverted after news of the
incident emerged.
The country music festival had been taking place
since Friday at several hotels on the Las Vegas strip.
Nevada has some of the least stringent gun laws
in the United States.
People are allowed to carry weapons and do not
have to register themselves as a gun-owner.
Background checks are done when people buy guns,
but they are also allowed to sell them privately.
The state does not ban assault weapons, which are
automatic or semi-automatic firearms, and there are no limits on buying
ammunition there.
Source: BBC News
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