7 Chilling Facts About The Las Vegas Shooting Crime Scene That Still Haunt Investigators

The October 1, 2017, Las Vegas mass shooting remains one of the most meticulously investigated yet profoundly inexplicable criminal events in modern U.S. history. As of late 2025, nearly a decade after the tragedy at the Route 91 Harvest music festival, the official conclusion still points to an undetermined motive, leaving a void of "why" that continues to fuel public curiosity and speculation. The true horror of the event, however, is laid bare in the forensic details of the crime scene itself, which reveal a level of methodical planning and sheer firepower that shocked even veteran law enforcement officials.

The investigation by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) and the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) closed with the definitive finding that gunman Stephen Paddock acted alone, dismissing all conspiracy theories. The focus has thus shifted from a search for accomplices to a chilling analysis of the preparation, execution, and aftermath—a forensic examination of the two distinct crime scenes: the 32nd-floor sniper’s nest and the festival grounds below.

Stephen Paddock: The Architect of the Attack

Stephen Craig Paddock, the 64-year-old perpetrator, was a former auditor and real estate investor with no history of violent crime or military service. His profile as a high-stakes gambler and a recluse makes his meticulously planned attack all the more baffling.

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• Full Name: Stephen Craig Paddock
• Age: 64
• Date of Birth: April 9, 1953
• Date of Death: October 1, 2017 (Suicide)
• Residence: Mesquite, Nevada
• Occupation: Former postal worker, auditor for the IRS, real estate investor, and high-stakes gambler.
• Motive: Officially Undetermined. The FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit concluded he sought to die by suicide but found no manifesto, co-conspirator, or definitive ideological reason.
• Key Behavioral Insight: FBI documents suggest Paddock held anti-government and conspiratorial beliefs, and was obsessed with privacy.
• Attack Location: Route 91 Harvest music festival, Las Vegas Strip, Nevada.
• Victim Count: 60 people killed, over 400 wounded by gunfire, and hundreds more injured in the ensuing panic.

The 32nd-Floor Sniper's Nest: An Unprecedented Arsenal

The two-room suite (32-135) at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, which Paddock occupied for four days before the attack, was transformed into a sophisticated and deadly command post. The sheer volume and nature of the weaponry found at this primary crime scene are arguably the most disturbing facts of the entire case.

1. The Shocking Scale of the Arsenal

When SWAT teams breached the room, they discovered an arsenal that dwarfed the firepower carried by a typical military unit. Paddock had brought 23 firearms into the suite, concealed in more than 10 suitcases.

• Total Firearms in Suite: 23 (primarily AR-15 and AK-47 style rifles).
• Bump Stocks Utilized: 12 of the rifles were modified with bump-stock devices, which allowed him to fire semi-automatic weapons at a rate close to that of a fully automatic machine gun.
• Ammunition: Thousands of rounds of ammunition were present, including tracer rounds.
• Forensic Comparison: The total number of high-powered rifles found in the suite was more than double the number of rifles typically carried by an entire U.S. Army infantry squad.

2. The Ballistic Calculation Note

Despite the lack of a traditional suicide note or manifesto explaining his motive, investigators found a chilling piece of evidence on a nightstand near one of the shattered windows: a handwritten note. This was not a message of grievance, but a technical document.

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The note contained precise, hand-written calculations for the optimal shooting angle and trajectory. Paddock had calculated the distance from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay to the Route 91 Harvest festival grounds, factoring in the drop of the bullet due to gravity over the distance of approximately 490 yards. This detail underscores the meticulous, cold-blooded planning behind the massacre, confirming he was aiming to maximize casualties.

3. The Surveillance and Fortification

Paddock’s preparations went beyond just weapons. He took steps to monitor approaching authorities and slow their entry. He set up a series of surveillance cameras both inside and outside the suite, including one on a room service cart in the hallway to watch for police.

He also attempted to fortify his position by screwing the door shut, which SWAT teams had to breach. To create his firing position, Paddock used a hammer to break out two windows in the suite—one in the living room and one in the bedroom—allowing him to fire at the crowd from two different vantage points.

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The Route 91 Harvest Festival: A Scene of Chaos and Trajectory

The second, and most tragic, crime scene was the 15-acre open-air venue of the Route 91 Harvest festival, located across Las Vegas Boulevard from the Mandalay Bay. The forensic analysis here focused on the chaotic distribution of bullet impacts from the high-angle attack.

4. The 10-Minute Barrage

The entire shooting spree lasted approximately 10 minutes, beginning at 10:05 p.m. and ending around 10:15 p.m. The attack was not continuous but consisted of 12 distinct bursts of automatic fire, separated by brief pauses.

During these pauses, Paddock was likely switching weapons, reloading, or adjusting his aim, demonstrating a chilling level of control over the mass murder. The rapid, sustained gunfire from the bump-stock rifles created an environment of inescapable terror for the 22,000 concertgoers, making it impossible to determine the source of the fire initially.

5. The Conflicting Security Timeline

A major point of controversy in the immediate aftermath was the timeline of events. Initial police reports suggested Paddock only began firing on the crowd after a Mandalay Bay security guard, Jesus Campos, was shot. However, the official LVMPD report later clarified the sequence.

The revised timeline revealed that Campos was shot at 9:59 p.m. while investigating a door alarm on the 32nd floor. The mass shooting into the festival crowd began six minutes later, at 10:05 p.m. This six-minute gap became a critical point of public debate and a focus of the ensuing civil lawsuits, raising questions about the hotel's response time and the potential for earlier intervention.

The Long Shadow of the Aftermath: Latest Updates

While the official criminal investigation is closed, the legal, financial, and emotional aftermath of the shooting continues to evolve, providing the most recent updates to the tragedy.

6. The $800 Million Civil Settlement

In a major development, a judge approved a massive $800 million settlement from MGM Resorts International—the owner of Mandalay Bay—and its insurers. This settlement was distributed to more than 4,400 relatives and victims of the shooting.

The settlement, which was one of the largest in U.S. history for a mass casualty event, resolved nearly all civil litigation against MGM Resorts. This financial closure, though not an admission of liability, was a significant step toward providing restitution to the survivors and the families of the deceased.

7. The Permanent Memorial Status

Efforts to create a lasting tribute have culminated in the planning for the "Forever One Memorial." MGM Resorts donated two acres of land near the site of the former festival grounds for the permanent structure.

The memorial is designed to honor the 60 victims, the survivors, and the first responders. The latest updates indicate that the project, which is managed by the Clark County-appointed 1 October Memorial Committee, is moving forward with a goal of completion by the 10th anniversary of the tragedy in October 2027. This ensures the site will become a permanent place of remembrance and reflection on the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history.